Gemotions

The sight of her journal, open on Ben’s desk, made a knot form in Maria’s stomach. She'd confided everything in that book – her hopes, her fears, her dreams of becoming a writer. Ben, her roommate, was looking over the pages, a strange expression on his face.

Her mouth felt dry, her throat constricted. She wanted to scream, to cry, to run away.

"Interesting stuff," Ben said, finally looking up. His tone was neutral, but it felt laced with mockery. Maria wanted to disappear. She grabbed her laptop, her fingers fumbling with the charger, and left, the weight of the betrayal settling heavily on her shoulders.