Gemotions

The world felt muted. Gray. Even the bright yellow sunflowers in the vase on the kitchen table seemed to have lost their vibrancy. Sarah’s appetite had vanished, and she’d been living off of lukewarm tea and the dust motes that danced in the afternoon sunbeams.

She sat hunched over her laptop, staring at a blank document. She was supposed to be writing a report, but the words swam before her eyes. Then a friend's message popped up, a simple "Hey, wanna catch up?" Sarah stared. Did she even *want* to catch up?

After a moment of deliberation, she agreed. The friend suggested a new coffee shop, and Sarah felt a sudden, sharp pang of dread. It was the same coffee shop where she had seen Brad, her old tormentor from school, a few weeks ago. She’d recognized him instantly. He’d been talking to someone. Counseling them. Sarah clenched her jaw. The thought of encountering him again was just… unsettling.