Gemotions

She found herself flinching every time the phone rang, a jolt of anxiety that sent a shiver down her spine. The missed call from Emily was the trigger; Emily’s supposed work trip had stretched into the weekend, a convenient explanation for why they couldn't meet. The excuse felt flimsy, threadbare.

Her reflection in the darkened window showed a face pulled taut, eyes wide and watchful. She'd spent the last hour on Emily's social media, scrutinizing every post, every tag, desperately searching for inconsistencies, for a clue. She even scrolled through Emily's followers, analyzing profiles for anything that felt suspicious.

She decided to drive. A sudden impulse, a need to *see*. She knew Emily's supposed office was in the city center. She had to, just had to, see if the building was real, if it was as opulent as Emily described. If it wasn't, then what? The thought made her feel nauseous, as if the world was tilting on its axis. She started the car.