Gemotions

The world felt muted, as if seen through a gauze filter. Sarah sat on the porch swing, the rhythmic creak a hollow counterpoint to the turmoil inside her. The test results had been a punch to the gut. All the questions, the unspoken anxieties about her place in the world, had now been answered in the worst possible way. A weight pressed down on her chest, making it hard to take a deep breath.

She looked out at the vibrant green of the lawn. It seemed… too bright, too cheerful. The swing kept creaking. Her throat felt tight.

A single tear traced a path down her cheek, leaving a cold trail.