Gemotions

The office felt stifling, the fluorescent lights humming a dull, monotonous tune. Ava drummed her fingers on her desk, the repetitive rhythm a frantic counterpoint to the quiet desperation building inside her. She felt like she was trapped, like she was suffocating. She needed air, a change of scenery.

Later, she found herself walking along the beach, the relentless crashing of the waves offering no solace. She noticed something partially buried in the sand. A small, water-stained box. She pulled it free. Inside were some shells, a pressed flower, and a small, notebook. The notebook contained her childish handwriting. She flipped through the pages, a strange…emptiness filling her chest.