Gemotions

"Ugh," Clara announced to the empty living room. The drill's high-pitched whine was a direct assault on her ears. It was a beautiful day, the kind she usually loved. But today, the idea of leaving the confines of her couch felt utterly impossible.

She considered the chores that awaited her: vacuuming, dusting, the dreaded dishes. The thought of any of them was enough to make her slump further into the cushions. She found herself staring blankly at the TV, flipping through channels without really seeing anything.

A small voice inside her head whispered about the backlog of books she’d been meaning to read, the painting she’d promised herself she’d start. All of it felt a million miles away, a burden she couldn't contemplate shouldering. A deep breath. Perhaps later.