Gemotions

She sat frozen in her chair, the printed copy of the journal clutched in her trembling hands. The words blurred before her eyes, the familiar sentences now alien and mocking. It felt like a betrayal, a brutal act of theft. She tasted bile at the back of her throat, a sickening reminder of the injustice.

A cold sweat slicked her skin. The temperature in the office had plummeted, though the air conditioning was functioning normally. She could feel every muscle in her body tense and coil. Her jaw ached from clenching. She wished she could disappear, become invisible, just to escape the immediate, crushing shame.

She looked around the room, each object a potential threat. Her colleagues seemed oblivious, chatting and laughing. Did they know? Could they see the truth of what had been done? Her breath caught in her throat, a silent scream building inside.