Gemotions

The bustling city streets seemed to blur around Sarah. The cacophony of car horns, chattering voices, and construction noise felt like a physical assault. She kept her head down, avoiding eye contact, desperate to reach the hospital. The past few weeks were a relentless cycle of exhaustion, illness, and doctor visits. Everything felt difficult.

She almost bumped into a man on the sidewalk, mumbling an apology before hurrying on. Inside the hospital, she sat in the waiting room, trying to force herself to take a deep breath. She could feel the walls closing in. The clock seemed to slow, each tick a hammer blow against her patience.

Then, a nurse called her name, and the man she had almost collided with on the street came forward, as well.