Gemotions

The email notification had been the first sign. “Your childhood home is now for sale.” Emily felt a sudden chill, despite the warm summer air filtering through her open window. The house, painted a vibrant blue in her memories, now looked stark and impersonal in the listing's photos.

She'd stopped answering her phone. The ringing felt intrusive. The world felt too much. Her days blurred into a monotonous cycle of silence and inactivity. She pushed the email aside, her hands shaking slightly.

She pulled the covers up around her and stared at the ceiling. The sunlight felt oppressive on her face. Her chest felt constricted. The thought of anything requiring effort, even getting out of bed, was an overwhelming hurdle.

She felt utterly depleted, emptied.