Gemotions

The phone vibrated in Emily’s hand. Her foster mother, Mrs. Gable, was calling. Emily let the call go to voicemail. The results were final. She had always felt like an outsider in Mrs. Gable’s house, despite the kindness. This confirmed it. The feeling was a solid mass.

She walked through the house, each room suddenly unfamiliar. The floral wallpaper of her bedroom, the worn rug in the hallway, the smell of Mrs. Gable’s cooking – it all felt strange, like she was trespassing. She felt the urge to run, to escape.

She left a note on the kitchen counter. “I’m gone.” The words were simple, yet they conveyed the full extent of her feelings. She picked up her bag and walked out, not looking back. The door slammed behind her, a definitive click.