Gemotions

“Not a match.” The words burned themselves into Maria’s mind. She looked at her parents’ faces, and she saw them differently now. The warmth that had always surrounded her felt like a lie.

She started cleaning the house, a frantic, desperate attempt to erase the chaos swirling inside her. Dust motes danced in the sunlight, mocking her efforts. She scrubbed the floors until her knees ached.

She avoided eye contact with her family at dinner. Her hands shook as she ate, the food tasting like ash in her mouth. She had a feeling she had somehow caused this.