Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread usually soothed Maria. It always had. Today, however, it only made her stomach churn. She slammed the oven door shut with a snap. The scent, once comforting, now felt suffocating, and reminded her of that day. She was trapped.

Her sister, Sofia, had just called. She was reminiscing about their childhood beach trip. Sofia recalled the endless games, the laughter, and the shared ice cream cones. Maria, however, could only recall the gritty sand, the sunburn, and the feeling of being utterly alone.

"It was the best vacation ever!" Sofia exclaimed, her voice bright. Maria just stared at the wall, her breath shallow. The weight on her felt crushing.