Gemotions

The rain lashed against the windows of the antique shop, mirroring the storm brewing inside her. She’d been hunting for a specific edition of *Pride and Prejudice*, her favorite book, hoping to find comfort in its familiar prose. She’d always loved the way the story ended, the feeling of hope. The shop’s owner, a prissy man with a too-perfect mustache, had been less than helpful, watching her every move.

She found the book, but the moment she touched it, a wave of sickness washed over her. It was all a lie.

A fragile note slipped out when she opened the book. She grabbed it.

The words, neatly typed, were brutal: *You were never enough.* She wanted to shatter every delicate glass trinket in the shop, but she stood frozen, the paper clenched in her hand. Her chest felt like it was about to explode.