Gemotions

The bustling marketplace was a riot of color and noise – vendors shouting, children laughing, the pungent aroma of spices. Emily stood slightly apart, feeling overwhelmed by the sensory overload. The constant barrage of stimuli made her head swim. She leaned against a stone wall, seeking a moment of respite.

She watched a woman carefully examining a stall of brightly colored fabrics. She held her head at a slight angle, moving slowly. She also moved cautiously, always aware. The woman bumped lightly into a stack of woven baskets and recoiled with a small, visible wince.

Emily realized with a sudden jolt that she, too, understood the woman's movements, her caution, her sensitivity to her surroundings. She knew the weight that no one else could see. She approached the woman, a question forming on her lips, and the beginnings of a smile.