Gemotions

Rain hammered against the window, blurring the city lights into smeared halos. Clara stared at her reflection, a stranger framed by the glass. Empty takeout containers cluttered the coffee table, remnants of a dinner consumed in near silence. She felt a profound emptiness, a vast cavern within her.

A persistent throb pulsed in her temples. She’d tried to call her sister, again, but the call had gone straight to voicemail. Clara sighed, the sound swallowed by the apartment’s quiet.

Maybe a walk would help. She pulled on her coat, the fabric clinging to her like a second skin. As she stepped out into the damp night, she recognized the building across the street. The sign read: "Dr. Ethan Black, Therapist." Her breath hitched. Ethan Black? Her childhood tormentor.