Gemotions

The coffee shop was too bright, too loud. Amelia kept glancing over her shoulder, a nervous habit she’d developed recently. The barista had just called her name, and her hand shook slightly as she reached for the cup. A friend, Sarah, had sent her a photo of the tattoo earlier that day. A perfect recreation of her mural "City's Embrace" on someone's calf.

The hot liquid scalded her tongue. Her hand trembled, sending a cascade of coffee down her wrist. She felt a wave of nausea, her stomach churning.

“Hey, you okay?” Sarah asked, her voice filled with concern. Amelia just managed a nod, her throat constricted, unable to form a coherent response. The cafe felt suddenly too small, too open.