Gemotions

Lila hummed a happy tune while baking cookies in the kitchen. Flour dusted her cheeks and the sweet smell of vanilla filled the air. She felt light and carefree, enjoying the simple pleasure of the moment. She was content, humming and measuring, and not thinking about anything else.

Her phone dinged. She checked it, the joy instantly fading. Her French teacher, Ms. Dubois, had started following her. A cold weight settled in her stomach.

She stopped what she was doing. The air in the kitchen felt too warm, the cheerful colors of the room too bright. She turned off the oven, feeling a sudden desire to leave, to be elsewhere.