Gemotions

A cold dread seeped into Amelia's bones when she saw the cover. Her face, her name, but a life she hadn’t lived, staring back at her from the bookstore window. It was titled "Amelia Blackwood: A Retrospective." She stood frozen, the late afternoon sun warm on her face, yet she felt a deep, abiding chill.

Her hands shook as she reached out, her fingers brushing against the glossy cover. The glossy paper felt like ice against her skin. She yanked her hand back, instinctively. She backed away, her movements jerky and uncoordinated, as though trying to break free from an invisible web.

She spun around, nearly tripping on the uneven pavement. She ran, not knowing where she was going, just needing to be away. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her chest burning with the effort.