Gemotions

The ceramic mug was painted with a scene of a child’s drawing of a friendly dragon. It sat there, on her desk, overflowing with steaming tea. She couldn't remember putting it there, nor making the tea. Everything felt skewed, the familiar angles of her classroom now strangely unfamiliar. A wave of nausea rolled over her.

She took a shaky breath, attempting to ground herself. Her gaze darted around the room, as if expecting something to move. A child’s giggle echoed in the hallway – a sound that quickly faded, yet left her trembling. She found herself reaching for the phone, then hesitating. The scent of the tea, normally comforting, now threatened to overwhelm her.