Gemotions

She sat frozen on the park bench, the notification on her phone a burning brand in her hand. The gentle breeze, normally a welcome caress, now felt like icy needles against her skin. People strolled by, oblivious, laughing, living their lives. How could they not know? Didn't they feel the earth tilting on its axis?

Tears, hot and relentless, streamed down her face. She couldn’t stop them. She scrubbed at her cheeks with the back of her hand, smearing mascara and making the situation worse. Each sob wracked her body, a violent earthquake of grief and disbelief.

She clutched her phone tighter, the screen a distorted reflection of her ravaged face. She needed to see her, to hear her voice. She scrolled through their photos, each image a fresh stab of pain. She had to talk to her. Immediately. She had to *fix* this.