Gemotions

The library felt suffocating to Jessica, the silence oppressive. She had hoped reading would distract her, but the words swam on the page, refusing to make sense. She gripped the book tightly, her knuckles white. Her breathing was shallow, and her heart hammered against her ribs. She felt as though she couldn't escape the walls.

She had been avoiding her phone, ignoring messages from friends and family. The weight of her current situation felt crushing, and she couldn't face them.

A man approached her, hesitantly. He was carrying a medical journal. "Excuse me," he said, his voice hesitant. "Are you familiar with…?" He mentioned a rare genetic condition, and Jessica's breath caught in her throat.