Gemotions

The librarian handed her the letter, her expression one of polite curiosity. She took it, the envelope feeling alien in her hand. The library’s hushed atmosphere intensified, the silence pressing in. As she walked to a table, her legs felt like stilts.

Her hands shook so badly she had to carefully place the envelope on the table. She stared at it, the paper seeming to vibrate with an unseen energy. A wave of heat washed over her, making her dizzy. She fanned herself with her hand, but it did no good.

She pulled the chair close, then slumped into it. Her pulse throbbed in her ears. She felt disconnected from the world, floating in a sea of dread. The library faded. Her own name, in shaky handwriting, became the only reality.