Gemotions

The hum of the refrigerator was a constant companion in Emily’s apartment, an unsettling drone that seemed to mirror the emptiness inside her. A sharp bark pierced the stillness. Buster. Of course. She knew his routine by heart.

She should probably go outside and get him. The thought felt insurmountable, a mountain to be climbed. Her gaze lingered on the book on the coffee table, a novel she hadn't touched in weeks. Instead of reading it, she felt her eyes flutter, and she sank back into the sofa, the dog’s noisy presence a mere distraction.