Gemotions

Maya pulled the covers tighter around her, the cold seeping into her bones despite the warmth of her bed. It was a bleak Tuesday morning, the kind that made her want to disappear. Her online friend, "KindredSpirit," had just messaged her, expressing his excitement about a new cafe that opened downtown. She sighed, her breath clouding in the chilly air.

She hadn't told him she lived only blocks from that cafe, in fact, she had passed it a dozen times, yet the prospect of going there was utterly unappealing. She hadn’t left her apartment in days. She found it easier to just remain in her own little bubble. She loved to pretend that her online friend was far away.

The notification sound jolted her. It was him again: “Thinking about grabbing coffee at that cafe tomorrow. Maybe we could even get lunch!" Her stomach lurched. The thought of potentially running into him, of having to explain her silence, filled her with a strange, twisting dread. She ignored the message and burrowed deeper into the blankets.