Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the art studio seemed to mock Chloe. Her painting, once a source of joy, now felt like a testament to her inadequacy. The "C" stapled to the back of the canvas burned like a brand on her spirit.

She sat alone, the brushes and paints untouched. The usually inspiring scent of turpentine and oil paints was now nauseating. She wrapped her arms around herself, a futile attempt to fend off the chill that had settled in her bones.

She wanted to tear the painting from its frame and destroy it, but she lacked the energy. She just wanted to disappear, to vanish from the studio, from the world. A solitary tear traced a path down her cheek, leaving a glistening streak on her skin.