Gemotions

“Congratulations, darling!” Her mother’s voice chirped over the phone. “The book is just wonderful! Such a compelling read! You really are a fascinating person!”

She mumbled a thank you, the words sticking in her throat. Her knuckles were white as she gripped the phone, her pulse a frantic drumbeat against her ribs. She couldn't look her mother in the eye. She struggled to keep the facade in place, the cheerful smile, the polite responses.

She paced her living room. The afternoon sun cast long shadows, stretching and distorting the familiar shapes of her furniture. The shadows seemed to be mocking her, mirroring the dark secrets within her biography.