Gemotions

A tremor ran through Amelia as she clutched the phone. The hospital administrator's voice, usually a soothing balm, was now a harsh, buzzing insect in her ear. They had made a mistake. Her medical records – the ones detailing the grim prognosis – had been filed under another name. A swell of… *something* built in her chest, pushing against the fear. She needed to breathe, to understand.

“So… so there’s a chance?” she managed, her voice barely a whisper. The administrator confirmed, the words tumbling out in a rush of apologies and explanations. The test results, the invasive procedures, all potentially for someone else.

Amelia hung up, the phone a dead weight in her hand. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. She felt a lightness in her limbs, a yearning to stretch, to move. A deep breath filled her lungs, a sensation she hadn't felt in weeks. She rose, walked over to the open window and let the fresh air fill her.