Gemotions

The lukewarm tea burned a little as it went down. Emily stared at the floral teacup, mesmerized by the intricate pattern. Across the kitchen table, her father was attempting to make conversation, detailing a local fishing tournament she'd never expressed interest in before. She merely nodded, picking at a chipped nail.

She’d left her apartment in a rush, after an abrupt phone call from her landlord. Her parents’ house, with its cluttered counters and overwhelming scent of air freshener, was a far cry from the modern loft she’d dreamed of. She could feel a flush creeping up her neck, staining her skin. She wished she had never left.