Gemotions

The notification buzzed on her phone, a small, insistent vibration against her palm. Maya hesitated before opening it, a sense of dread pooling in her stomach. The message was concise, impersonal, and devastating. She felt a sudden lightness in her head, as if she might float away. She felt her chest constrict, making it hard to take a full breath. The walls of her tiny apartment seemed to be closing in. She sank onto the floor, pulling her knees to her chest, the screen of her phone reflecting the dim light of the room.