Gemotions

Her breath hitched in her throat as she entered the library. The hushed tones and the scent of aged paper usually soothed her, but today they grated on her nerves. Her cousin’s announcement had unleashed a torrent of apprehension. Every turn of the page, every rustle of a jacket felt like a threat. Her gaze darted from face to face, searching for a sign, a clue. She gripped her book so tightly her knuckles ached. The quiet of the library became a mocking echo chamber amplifying every whispered fear.