Gemotions

The aroma of burnt coffee hung heavy in the air. Amelia stared at her reflection in the darkened window, the book clutched in her trembling hand. It seemed her whole life had been reduced to a collection of shallow anecdotes, a series of failed connections. Every wrong decision, every misstep now permanently etched in ink.

A wave of nausea churned in her gut. She’d been avoiding her colleagues, the neighbors, everyone. Her social life had already ground to a halt. What would they think? What would they say? The thought of facing anyone, of being the subject of their pitying glances, sent a fresh jolt of terror through her.

She ripped the book in half, then again, and again, until she held only tattered remnants. But the words, the story, remained. And now they were out there, in the world.