Gemotions

Rain splattered against the window, mirroring the disquiet inside Clara. She glared at the book lying on her desk, the cover art depicting a smiling version of herself. "Clara Ainsworth: A Life Unbound." The irony wasn't lost on her. She felt absolutely bound to her current state of affairs.

She had been avoiding her emails, knowing there’d be messages from her friends about the book. She’d be forced to explain, to defend, to endure the inevitable awkward conversations. The thought made her want to retreat into herself.

She took a deep breath, attempting to center herself. She knew she couldn't ignore it forever. But for now, the book, and the whole situation it represented, could just sit there, gathering dust.