Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, usually a comfort, now felt like a chore. Evelyn took a sip, the bitter liquid doing little to awaken her. Her mind was a fog, the edges of everything blurred. A cacophony of barking announced Buster's arrival.

She felt a detached sense of annoyance. She knew exactly where the dog would be – sniffing around the rose bushes. The thought of tending to the garden, once a passion, now filled her with a heavy dread. She finally forced herself to the door, the latch creaking with a sound of mournful inevitability.