Gemotions

She started locking the doors. Then the windows. Then the blinds. The apartment was a fortress now, but still, Clara felt exposed. She meticulously checked the locks, again, and again. She had to. The doctor's office had admitted their mistake. Her file, mixed with someone else's. Someone... unhealthy. Someone with... what?

She spent hours online, researching diseases, symptoms, treatments. The laptop screen cast an eerie glow on her face, turning her features gaunt and haunted. Every notification sound made her jump.

The chirping of the microwave. She felt her muscles clench. It was just food. She forced herself to eat. But each bite felt like a ticking time bomb. The food was cold, and she pushed the plate away.