Gemotions

The letter lay open on the kitchen table, illuminated by the harsh glare of the overhead light. Maria ran a hand across the smooth surface of the wood, feeling the grain beneath her fingertips. Her mother bustled around the kitchen, humming a cheerful tune. Maria couldn’t bring herself to meet her eyes.

A coldness spread through her, starting in her toes and creeping upwards. Her stomach churned. The scent of cooking dinner, usually so comforting, now seemed to assault her senses. She felt a profound sense of loss, a sinking feeling of disappointment.

She wanted to say something, to warn her mother before the inevitable conversation, but the words wouldn't come. She just stood there, frozen, unable to move.