Gemotions

"How could you?" The question hung in the air, barely a whisper. Maria stared at her sister, the author of the treacherous biography. Her sister’s words had exposed her secrets, her frailties. Maria felt like a broken thing.

Her hands shook. She struggled to keep the tears from spilling over. Her sister, her family, had betrayed her. She backed away slowly, as if she was afraid of being struck. Each movement was labored, each breath a struggle.

She turned and fled, not knowing where she was going, only that she had to get away. The silence of her sister’s apartment was broken by the sound of her own ragged breathing. She had to flee to survive.