Gemotions

The bustling marketplace, usually a source of joy, now felt like a personal gauntlet. I navigated the crowded stalls, the scent of spices and fresh produce triggering a wave of self-consciousness. My face flushed, my hands instinctively shielding my neck. I was so exposed.

A woman, her face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat, bumped into me, her hand brushing against mine. Her eyes, filled with an unsettling mixture of pity and understanding, met mine. She knew.

The knowledge hung between them, heavy and suffocating. They both shared the same bizarre reaction to sunlight, the cause of which was, shockingly, the same rare medical condition. I felt the familiar burn creeping up my neck. I wanted to run, to hide. I suddenly felt so very small.