Gemotions

The air in the library was thick with the scent of old paper and hushed whispers. She traced the spines of books, a futile attempt to distract herself. Her roommate, Chloe, had been acting distant lately, avoiding eye contact. She suspected Chloe had been reading her journal.

The silence that had settled in their room felt suffocating, a heavy presence that squeezed the breath from her lungs. She’d written about the crushing pressure of her family's expectations, the constant worry about failing. Now, the fear was that these vulnerabilities were shared.

She closed her eyes, wishing, just for a moment, that someone would understand.