Gemotions

Maya ran a hand through her hair, already feeling exhausted, and the day had barely begun. The clock on the wall seemed to be ticking tauntingly slowly, each second a reminder of her impending appointment. She shifted in her seat, finding no comfort in the soft cushion. Why was everything so difficult today?

The door creaked open, and a woman with a calm demeanor beckoned her in. It was Bethany, the girl who used to relentlessly tease Maya about her stutter in elementary school. The tension in Maya's shoulders ratcheted up another notch. She closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them, and gave a terse, "Hello, Bethany."