Gemotions

The harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital waiting room seemed to amplify the silence. She sat rigidly, clutching the crumpled paper, her knuckles white. “See the Grand Canyon.” Her father’s words swam before her, a cruel reminder of all he wouldn't get to see.

She felt an overwhelming sense of helplessness, a crushing weight pressing down on her chest. She struggled to breathe. She rose, walked slowly, each step heavy, to the window. The world outside seemed distant, blurred, as if viewed through a veil. Her vision grew hazy, the sounds of the room muffled.