Gemotions

The email was curt, a digital paper cut: "Your dog's barking has been disturbing my sleep for weeks." Maria stared at the screen, her breath catching in her throat. The words seemed to vibrate, a relentless buzz that filled her head. She felt the sudden urge to bite her lip, a habit she thought she had outgrown.

She found herself staring at Luna, her golden retriever, who wagged her tail innocently. Maria knelt, burying her face in the dog's fur, the familiar scent a balm against the sting. The joy in Luna’s eyes felt like a rebuke.

She spent the next hour re-reading the email, each word a fresh wound.