Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in Maya's mouth. She stared at the swirling cream, the movement doing nothing to lift the weight in her chest. The cafe buzzed around her, a symphony of chatter and clinking cups, but it all seemed distant, muted. She felt like she was observing it all from behind a thick pane of glass.

Her shoulders slumped. She'd poured her heart and soul into this, the design for the new community center. Countless hours spent sketching, revising, refining. Now, the presentation was this afternoon. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach.

A glance at her phone. The message was from her colleague, David, inviting her to collaborate on a new project. She felt a flicker of surprise and dread; David was always so enthusiastic.