Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. "Your online companion, 'CyberSurfer', is located near you." The words on the screen swam before Maya's eyes. She felt the sudden urge to shut down her laptop and crawl into bed. She felt the walls closing in.

She backed away from her desk, her gaze fixated on the window. She saw the familiar apartment buildings, the street lights, the passing cars. The ordinary sights of the city felt wrong, tainted. She felt a burning need to be alone, to disappear.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to suppress the sensation of unease creeping up her spine. The easy banter and late-night chats now felt like a dangerous intimacy. She had shared secrets with this person, details of her life that were now potentially exposed.