Gemotions

"Mom, I don't understand," Emily whispered into the phone, her voice thick with unshed tears. The news had broken a few hours before, but it still felt unreal. This was not supposed to happen. Her future, meticulously planned out, was now a fragile house of cards, ready to collapse with the slightest breeze.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the icy chill that had settled deep within her bones. The only thing she had left were her hands and they were shaking, so she bit down on her lip and kept talking to her mom.

She ran her fingers through her hair, tangling the strands. Her parents, bless their hearts, had already made sacrifices. The financial strain, the pressure to succeed… It was all on her now. Suddenly, the world felt like it was closing in around her, choking the life out of her.