Gemotions

The paper in Amelia’s hand felt like it weighed a ton. She closed her eyes, trying to block out the sharp words. The air in the room was stagnant, thick with the scent of unwashed clothes and old books. She had known the day was coming, but that knowledge had not helped.

She slumped onto the floor beside the overflowing laundry basket, her breath shallow and uneven. The silence of the apartment pressed down on her, punctuated only by the distant hum of the city. She’d made promises she couldn't keep. The thought of facing her friends and family, facing the consequences of her choices, sent a shudder through her.

She had failed.