Gemotions

"I just can't, Sophie," Emily had said, her voice bright and apologetic. She couldn't attend Sophie’s intimate book club meeting. She had another event to go to, her friend Jessica’s escape room challenge. Sophie had been looking forward to sharing her new favorite novel with her closest friends.

Now, she sat alone on her sofa, the book resting unread in her lap. A weight pressed down on her shoulders. Her initial excitement about the book club had evaporated, replaced by a pervasive sense of loneliness.

She traced the cover of the book with her finger, the words blurring before her eyes. The quiet of her apartment felt oppressive, the silence amplifying the absence of her friends. She felt a wave of fatigue, and closed her eyes.