Gemotions

The world seemed to spin a little faster than usual, a dizzying carousel of worries. Amelia paced the length of the living room, her bare feet cold against the hardwood floor. The air was heavy, charged with unspoken grievances. Sleep had eluded her again, chased away by a relentless tide of anxieties. She felt like something was slowly breaking, cracking in her very core.

She’d found the book tucked beneath a stack of old journals in the attic. The cover of the novel, "Undercurrents," featured a watercolor illustration of two figures struggling in turbulent waters. The character of "Serena," was immediately familiar.

The narrative portrayed Serena's inability to express her needs and her habit of retreating from confrontation. It was Serena, in the character's every action, every thought, in her crushing vulnerability. Amelia felt a cold dread settle in her stomach.