Gemotions

The flickering neon sign of the bar across the street seemed to mock Amelia’s lethargy. Another night spent in her pajamas, another night lost in the digital glow of her laptop screen. "Bookworm_Babe," her online friend, was her only source of connection these days. They bonded over their love of literature and their shared dislike of… well, most things.

Bookworm_Babe, it turned out, lived just a few blocks away. Amelia’s heart skipped a beat, then immediately sank. A meet-up was suggested. She ran her fingers through her unwashed hair, the texture feeling alien. She was meant to go out tonight. She was supposed to meet up with a friend. She couldn’t.

She reread the message, "How about that new bookstore on Elm Street?" Elm Street was where she did her grocery shopping. It was only three blocks from her apartment. The thought of putting on real clothes, of leaving the house, felt like scaling a mountain. She felt a profound sense of paralysis.