Gemotions

I woke up, my heart pounding. The dream had been vivid: a dark, looming barrier, blocking out the sun, choking the air. I sat up in bed, my chest constricted.

My neighbor's intention, once a distant possibility, now felt like a suffocating reality. I wanted to scream, to lash out, to make them understand. My hands were shaking.

I went into the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. My face was flushed, my eyes wide and wild. I felt cornered, trapped, a caged animal. I splashed cold water on my face, but the icy water didn't help. The knot in my stomach remained.