Gemotions

The doctor’s news, delivered with a professional detachment, had initially left Chloe shaken. Now, though, the prospect of connecting with someone else who shared the rare affliction, the relentless pain of Algedonic Disconnection, was different.

She had been invited to a digital meeting. She spent hours deciding what to wear, something she had not done in a long time. The thought of finding someone who *understood* the ache, the constant ache, caused a fluttering sensation in her stomach.

Chloe checked the clock repeatedly. She grabbed a notebook and a pen, ready to take notes, eager to gather new information. She wanted to know more. She anticipated, with a smile that crept across her face, being finally heard.