Gemotions

The room spun. That was the only way Zara could describe it. She felt a profound discombobulation, her senses scrambled. Her brother, Noah, was fiddling with his tie, a nervous habit he always had when he was uncertain. She, on the other hand, was rooted to her seat, every muscle locked.

The lawyer finished explaining the terms, then looked at them expectantly. Zara’s gaze drifted toward the window, where the sun cast stripes across the polished floor. It felt as if a heavy fog had settled in her mind, blurring her thoughts. She struggled to grasp the situation, her comprehension lagging behind reality.

"Anything you'd like to ask?" The lawyer's voice sounded distant and muffled, like he was speaking from inside a tunnel. Zara opened her mouth, but no sound emerged. Noah cleared his throat for them both.