Gemotions

The aroma of her signature gingerbread cookies, the ones she always baked for Christmas, drifted from the bakery down the street, but it wasn't her shop. She felt a burning sensation in her chest, a painful constriction that made it hard to breathe. The gingerbread was her passion. She would not even use anything but the highest-quality ingredients.

Her hands clenched. She felt her face flush, the blood pounding in her ears. She forced herself to walk, her legs feeling like lead. She stopped at the window, staring at the perfectly displayed cookies. The gingerbread man even had a bow tie, just like she always made.

She pressed her forehead against the cool glass, her vision blurring with tears. This couldn't be happening. Not to her.