Gemotions

The notification popped up on her phone: “Article published.” But the name wasn’t hers. It was an imposter, a phantom in her own professional life. A wave of nausea surged through her, leaving her weak and shaky. She was stuck.

Her hands, usually so steady on the keyboard, now trembled so badly she couldn't dial her friend. She moved away from the desk, pacing the small apartment. The sunlight, once a source of comfort, now seemed overly bright, casting long, distorted shadows. She tugged at her collar, desperate for air.

She felt a strange disconnect from her body, as if she were watching herself from a distance. The world seemed to tilt, the familiar shapes of her home becoming unsettlingly unfamiliar. She needed to sit down, to anchor herself to something solid, but even the chair felt unstable.