Gemotions

The email shimmered on her phone screen, the subject line a malevolent little snake: "Your Essay Published!" Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird attempting escape. She dropped the phone onto the kitchen counter with a clatter, the ceramic tile suddenly seeming to pulse beneath her trembling hands. It was the essay about her grandmother, the one she'd poured her soul into, the one that revealed so much. Now, it was out there.

She backed away from the counter, bumping into the island. A hot wave washed over her, and she had to swallow several times to force it down. She imagined readers dissecting her words, judging her, seeing her vulnerability. The essay, her vulnerability, was everywhere.

She needed air. Grabbing her keys, she fumbled with the lock, her fingers clumsy and unresponsive. The summer humidity clung to her skin as she stepped outside, and the sudden quiet of the street was almost more oppressive than the enclosed space of her apartment.