Gemotions

She found herself gripping the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles were white. The highway stretched before her, an endless ribbon of grey, but all she saw was a blur. Her parents’ house was just up ahead, the house she'd fled years ago, and a knot of dread twisted in her stomach.

Her breath hitched as she pulled into the driveway. The perfectly manicured lawn, the freshly painted porch – it all felt like a judgement. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of potpourri and something else… something she couldn’t quite name, but it made her chest ache.

Her father greeted her with a bear hug that left her breathless, his booming laughter echoing in the small entry way. His joviality felt like a pressure cooker, and she could feel the edges of her control start to fray as he asked about her "situation," her voice coming out as a strained, "Fine."