Gemotions

Maya’s hands trembled as she clutched the steaming mug of tea. Her gaze darted to her roommate, Chloe, who was currently occupied with a video game. The chair creaked under her weight as she shifted; the noise grating in the room's tense atmosphere. The journal, the one she poured her soul into? Missing.

A wave of heat surged through her. It was as if her own skin was on fire. Chloe had been strangely quiet, unusually eager to help with chores. Her face felt hot, and a flush had spread across her cheeks.

Maya forced a smile, but it felt brittle, unnatural. The air was thick. The tea burned her tongue, but she barely noticed. She felt trapped. The shared space, the comfort of her dorm, had suddenly become a cage.