Gemotions

"It's just a vase," her mother had said, her voice surprisingly brittle. The jade vase, carved with dragons and phoenixes, was all that remained of her father's collection. It was also the only valuable object she owned.

She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back tears. The city outside roared, a constant cacophony of sirens and honking horns. Her breath came in short, shallow gasps. She paced the small apartment, her steps erratic and uneven. The walls seemed to be closing in, the air thick with the unspoken. Each exhale felt laborious and slow.