Gemotions

The sunlight seemed too bright, the air too thick. Sarah pulled the covers over her head, wishing she could disappear into the shadows. The familiar scent of her childhood bedroom, once a source of comfort, now felt like a reminder of a life she had failed to create.

A persistent tapping at her door. "Sarah? Are you awake?" Her mother's voice, laced with a concern that felt like a weight. Sarah groaned inwardly, hating the feeling of being a disappointment.

She considered pretending to be asleep, but she knew it wouldn't work. The inevitable conversation, the well-meaning questions, the forced optimism – all of it filled her with a sense of dread. She slowly sat up.