Gemotions

The phone slipped from her grasp, the sound of it clattering on the hardwood floor a sharp intrusion into the quiet. I have a brother. The words echoed in her mind, a relentless mantra. Her fingers trembled as she picked it up, dialing her mother's number. The dial tone rang, each pulse of sound a hammer blow. The vibrant colors of the living room felt dull and faded. The air was thick with a suffocating feeling, as if she were trapped in a vacuum. She wanted to scream, to shatter the oppressive stillness, but the only sound that escaped was a choked sob.