Gemotions

"Just a little something to read," the note on the doorstep had said. Inside, a book with her name embossed in gold. Amelia picked it up, her fingers tracing the smooth cover. “Amelia: A Portrait of Isolation.” She flipped it open and saw her face, her life, laid out in meticulous detail. The book mentioned her solitary walks in the park, the hours spent in the library, and her aversion to crowds.

A coldness spread through her. The book depicted her as almost invisible, a ghost in her own life. She had always chosen her quiet lifestyle. But the book made it sound like she had no other choice. She slammed the book shut and paced her small apartment, the silence amplifying the thudding in her chest.

She went to the sink, splashed water on her face, and looked at her reflection. She saw a stranger. How could this man know her so well? She sank to the floor, pulling her knees up to her chest.