Gemotions

The first night back, Emily lay in her old bed, staring at the ceiling. The sounds of the house – her father’s snoring, the creaking stairs – were alien, unsettling. She hadn't shared a bedroom with her parents in decades. Now, she felt like a child again, vulnerable and small.

She pulled the covers tighter around her, shivering despite the warmth. Every shadow seemed to hold a lurking presence. Her heart thumped a rapid rhythm against her ribs.

She thought of the blank future, the endless days stretching before her.