Gemotions

"Ugh," Sarah groaned, pushing herself out of bed. The sun, a relentless force, was already halfway up the sky, forcing its way through her blinds. It was her brother's birthday. A whole day of forced fun awaited. It felt heavy on her, a physical weight she carried through the morning.

She glanced at the pristine, untouched video game console in the corner, a stark contrast to the chaos of her room. The thought of engaging with anything, even something she usually enjoyed, felt like an insurmountable climb. The idea of dressing up, of interacting with other people, seemed ridiculously difficult.

She imagined herself slumped on the couch, the remote control her only companion. The world could carry on without her for a little while, she decided. "I'll make it up to him later," she muttered, her voice muffled by the pillow.