Gemotions

The phone rang, shattering the fragile peace she had managed to achieve. She stared at it, the shrill sound grating on her nerves. She considered ignoring it, letting it ring until the caller gave up. But, she knew it would be her mother.

She answered, her voice tight, barely above a whisper. Her mother's cheerful greeting sounded like a cruel mockery. She mumbled responses, struggling to keep the tremor out of her voice. Every sentence felt like a burden.

She ended the call abruptly, her hand shaking as she returned the phone to the cradle. The silence returned, more oppressive than before. She felt a profound sense of helplessness, trapped in a relentless cycle of self-doubt. She closed her eyes, the words of the rejection echoing in the dark.