Gemotions

The campus cafeteria was a cacophony of noise, but it all seemed to fade into the background. Sarah picked at her scrambled eggs, the food tasting like cardboard. Everything felt like a chore, an unbearable weight. She was usually enthusiastic, but today, she was completely devoid of energy. Her roommate, Emily, was already deep in conversation with a group of friends, her laughter echoing through the room.

That night, she found her journal on the bed, pages askew. A sharp pang of betrayal ripped through her. She was certain she’d left it tucked safely away. A specific entry about her anxieties about fitting in was now in plain view.

She felt a hot tide of humiliation wash over her. “Are you feeling okay?” Emily asked, noticing her unusually subdued demeanor. Sarah managed a weak smile, but the words felt hollow and fake.