Gemotions

The silence of the library was oppressive, amplifying the frantic rhythm of her heartbeat. Olivia pressed the book closer to her chest, the weight of it suddenly unbearable. She swallowed hard, trying to quell the rising tide of panic.

Each chapter was a dissection of their life together, every argument, every shared meal, rendered in cold, clinical prose. She pictured Ben, his gentle nature, his quiet thoughtfulness, and her chest ached. Was any of it genuine?

She needed to breathe, to step away from this suffocating reality. She felt trapped, like a fly caught in a spider's web. She slammed the book closed, the sound echoing in the stillness.