Gemotions

Rain lashed against the dorm window, mimicking the dull ache in Amelia's chest. She’d come back to find her diary open on the desk, the cheap paper still creased from the binding. A knot formed in her stomach. Her roommate, Sarah, was humming in the common area, oblivious. Amelia picked up the offending book, its familiar weight suddenly heavy in her hand. The pages felt soiled, tainted. She sank onto her bed, the springs groaning in protest, and closed her eyes, the world a muted grey.

She wanted to scream. Instead, she picked at a loose thread on the quilt.

Later, she found herself staring at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Her eyes were red-rimmed, her face pale. She’d barely touched her dinner, a sandwich left mostly uneaten. She splashed cold water on her face, but the numbness remained.