Gemotions

Maya slammed the door with more force than intended. The sound resonated through her small apartment, a sharp punctuation mark to the conversation she'd just had with Chloe. Across the country. Months of planning. A whole new life. Maya felt a knot tighten in her stomach, a sensation like all her muscles had decided to clench simultaneously.

She paced the length of her living room, her hands clenched into fists. She ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the strands. The framed photograph on the mantelpiece, a picture of her and Chloe laughing on a beach, seemed to mock her. The laughter, the easy companionship – all seemed threatened, vulnerable.

She kicked at a stray shoe lying on the floor. It skidded across the hardwood, the sound grating. She grabbed her phone, instinctively wanting to text Chloe, but hesitated. What could she possibly say?