Gemotions

Sarah found her toothbrush in the wrong holder. That was the first thing. Odd, but not unheard of in their shared dorm room. Then, she noticed her favorite pen, the one she always left capped on her desk, was uncapped and lying on top of her opened journal. A prickling sensation crawled up her spine. She'd been so careful to hide it, tucked under her mattress.

She picked up the journal, flipping through the pages. Nothing seemed out of place, but the air felt charged, different. Her roommate, Emily, was humming in the kitchen, making instant noodles.

"Hey, Em," Sarah called out, her voice a little too high. "You see my pen anywhere?"

Emily poked her head in, a greasy strand of hair falling across her cheek. "Oh, yeah! I borrowed it for a second. Sorry. It's really nice."

Sarah forced a smile. "No problem." She retreated to her desk, the journal feeling heavy in her hands.