Gemotions

Maya chewed on the inside of her cheek, a habit she'd picked up in moments of… anticipation. The email notification blinked on her phone. “Your teenage diary, *My Awkward Years*, is now live on the blogosphere!” She slammed the phone down on the kitchen counter, the ceramic clattering against the granite. Sunlight streamed in, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a stark contrast to the churning unease in her stomach. Outside, the world was alive, birds chirping, children laughing. Inside, she felt a trapped energy, a current that buzzed beneath her skin.

She paced the length of her apartment, each step measured, yet conveying a sense of urgency. The coffee she'd made earlier sat cold in the mug. She didn't want it. She grabbed her keys, her fingers fumbling slightly. The world outside beckoned, a vast, unknown space that might absorb some of the pressure building inside. Her breath hitched. She had to *do* something.

The front door slammed shut behind her, echoing in the hallway. Her reflection in the elevator doors stared back, eyes wide, jaw clenched. Any movement seemed preferable to staying still, she realised.