Gemotions

"They took it," I whispered, the words catching in my throat. My article, my voice, now owned by someone else. The sheer injustice of it made my head spin. I sat on my bed, the sheets tangled around my legs. The room was dim, the curtains drawn against the bright afternoon.

I hadn’t spoken to anyone in days, the silence of my apartment a suffocating presence. My phone sat silent on the bedside table. I looked at the screen, a blank slate, devoid of any connection to the outside world. The thought of reaching out felt too heavy, the effort too great.

I pulled the covers up, burying myself in the darkness, seeking refuge from the overwhelming sense of… disconnection. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing, willing myself to feel something other than this emptiness.