Gemotions

The news felt like a tonic. Amelia’s announcement, a cascade of happy words about a move to Colorado, played in a loop inside her head. A small smile tugged at her lips as she made herself a cup of tea, a rare moment of quiet.

The apartment, usually a shared space, would soon be hers alone. The constant demands on her time, the relentless drama, would be a thing of the past. She could finally have peace.

She walked over to her bookshelf, her hand lingering over a travel guide to Italy she'd long put off reading. A flutter of anticipation began in her chest as she imagined the future, unburdened and open to her desires.