Gemotions

The subject line was blunt: “Writing Example.” It took Elara a moment to realize what it meant. Her essay, the one about her struggles with anxiety, was now a public artifact. She felt a sudden, overwhelming urge to hide.

She remembered the panic attacks, the sleepless nights, the constant battle against her own thoughts. She remembered the shame, the isolation, the desperate need for understanding. She felt a cold sweat prickle on her skin. She had bared her soul for that piece.

She stared at the screen, her vision blurring. She got up from her chair and walked to the window, staring out at the rain. The world felt too bright, too loud. She needed to be alone.