Gemotions

The bus crawled through the congested city streets, each stop a fresh wave of annoyance for Sarah. The packed space, the jostling, the endless delays—everything seemed designed to test her patience. The air was thick and stale, making her cough. She hated public transport.

She spotted another woman, across the aisle, who was also coughing, her face pale. The woman was clutching a tissue, and kept glancing at her own wrist, checking her watch. Sarah felt her own chest tighten.

When the bus lurched to a sudden stop, sending both of them stumbling forward, the other woman let out an exasperated sigh. Sarah muttered, "Is this thing ever going to move?" The woman looked over. "I know, right? Are you…?"