Gemotions

The phone lay on the table, still warm from the conversation. Maria stared at it, the plastic surface reflecting her face back at her, distorted and pale. She’d always prided herself on being strong, resilient. Now, the weight of the situation threatened to crush her. The words, "Accounting error," felt like a bad joke.

She paced the small living room, her movements jerky and erratic. The music she usually loved seemed grating, so she turned it off. Her fingers tapped restlessly against her thigh. She thought of her family, the expectations that weighed on her.

A wave of nausea washed over her. She gripped the edge of the table, trying to ground herself. The world was spinning, and she didn’t know which way was up.