Gemotions

The smell of fresh paint and varnish was making her nauseous. The new bathroom was almost finished, and the sounds of the final touches echoed in the otherwise quiet neighborhood. She couldn’t bring herself to go outside.

She knew she should apologize to the Johnsons, but every time she rehearsed the words in her head, they got stuck in her throat. The thought of facing them felt like a physical impediment. She’d made a mistake, a terrible one, and now she felt utterly blocked.

The shadows seemed to lengthen in her living room, mirroring the growing darkness in her heart. She couldn't eat, she couldn't sleep. She spent her days staring out the window, a prisoner in her own home. The joy of the new bathroom felt like a taunt.