Gemotions

The world tilted slightly. Emily watched her ice cream drip onto the pavement, the pastel colours suddenly dull. Across from her, a man named Mark enthusiastically described the time "Jess" had fixed his car. Her jaw tightened; she knew that story. The same car, the same fix, but with a different name. Her chest felt constricted.

She attempted a smile, but it felt wooden, unnatural. She felt the urge to flee, to run away and hide. The park benches seemed to shrink, the trees closing in. She glanced around nervously.

Mark reached out and touched her arm. "You alright? You look a bit pale." Emily quickly pulled away, her voice barely a whisper, "Yeah, just... a bit hot." She thought about how much she wanted to go home and lie down.