Gemotions

Maya pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, the action feeling heavier than it should. The campus coffee shop hummed with the usual morning rush, but she felt oddly muted, as if the sounds were reaching her through thick cotton. Her usual latte, the one she practically needed to function, sat untouched on the table. Lately, the simplest tasks felt like navigating a bog. The email from the financial aid office, a terse message about a "review" of her scholarship, sat open on her laptop, its implications a lead weight in her stomach.

The barista, Liam, called out her name, the cheer in his voice grating. She managed a weak smile as she collected her beverage, the warmth doing nothing to thaw the iciness spreading from her chest.

"Rough morning?" Liam asked, tilting his head.

Maya shrugged, attempting a lightness that failed. "Just a bit…under the weather," she mumbled, then retreated to her usual table, the world feeling just a little too bright, too loud.