Gemotions

The list, tucked inside a worn copy of *Moby Dick*, felt heavy in Sophia’s hands. "Learn to code." Her father, the tech guru, the one who understood the digital world like no one else. Sophia felt a wave of nausea. She'd always relied on him to fix her computer, navigate online forms, and explain the complexities of technology.

She lived in his house, used his car, depended on his advice. The world, without his technical skills, seemed like a minefield of potential disasters. He'd managed the finances, the home repairs, the complex insurance policies. She could barely balance her checkbook.

“See the Northern Lights.” Sophia closed her eyes, imagining the swirling colors in the night sky. The sheer scope of the trip, the planning required, the unknown elements, felt overwhelming. She felt a cold dread that settled deep in her bones, a feeling of inadequacy that seemed to grow with every passing moment.