Gemotions

The library felt suffocating, so Maya fled to the dorm room, hoping for some breathing room. It was no better. A tremor ran through her, an almost physical ache. She tugged at the collar of her sweater, as if it were constricting her. The hum of the mini-fridge was amplified, grating on her nerves.

The room seemed to shrink, the walls closing in. Her gaze landed on the familiar, worn cover of her journal, resting on the desk that she usually kept it on. It was now lying open. A wave of nausea hit her. Her breath hitched.

She picked it up, then put it back down, as if she were afraid to touch it. Her roommate, Chloe, strolled in, humming a cheerful tune, and Maya wanted to scream.