Gemotions

The world felt loud, the cafeteria bustling with sounds she usually ignored. Sarah gripped her tray tightly, her knuckles white. Each cheerful conversation, each congratulatory pat on the back for the selected swimmers, was like a pinprick. She avoided eye contact, focusing instead on the wobbly stack of apple slices.

She was surprised by the lack of tears. Instead, there was a strange numbness. Her chest felt heavy, as if weighed down by an invisible boulder. She couldn't eat. The food in front of her seemed suddenly repulsive. She was supposed to be celebrating, not hiding.