Gemotions

"No, Mom," she stated, her voice sharp, as she stood near the open doorway. Her mother, perched on the edge of the sofa, had a concerned expression on her face. "I'm not going to that family gathering." She took a step back, as if bracing herself.

Her mother’s gaze locked onto hers, filled with a mixture of sadness and something else, something she couldn't quite place. She felt a surge of coldness in her gut. She averted her eyes, looking around the living room, cataloging the dust motes dancing in the sunlight.

Later, she pulled the covers over her head, shutting out the world. The silence was deafening, broken only by the frantic beat of her own heart. She hated feeling this way.