Gemotions

Clara stared at the screen, the words "Coming of Age, Online" mocking her. She felt a hot flush crawl up her neck. She stood abruptly, knocking over her water glass. The sound of the spill, the spreading stain on the carpet, didn't register. She felt a jolt of energy, a need for release.

Her hand trembled as she reached for her coat. She needed to *burn* the diary; erase it from her memory. But first, she needed air. She needed to walk. She walked out into the street. Her heart pounded in her chest, a relentless rhythm.

The city buzzed around her, a symphony of sounds she usually loved, now grating on her nerves. The light hurt her eyes. She wanted to scream.