Gemotions

The photograph, clutched so tightly in her hand, was damp with her tears. It showed a woman, a stranger with familiar eyes. The resemblance was uncanny, and suddenly the world tilted. Her stomach churned. The quiet of the library, usually a comfort, now felt oppressive, each tick of the clock amplifying the turmoil within her. She tried to steady her breathing, but her lungs seemed to have forgotten how. She had to get out. She stood so quickly she almost fell. She rushed towards the doors, the scent of old books and paper suddenly suffocating.