Gemotions

The phone vibrated in her hand. It was a message from her friend, a casual invitation to grab a coffee. She stared at the screen, her chest constricted. Her fingers trembled as she typed a reply. She asked for an alternative place, a park, somewhere public.

The lies, the carefully constructed facade, seemed to weigh on her like a physical burden. She felt a sudden need for fresh air, for space, for a chance to breathe. She was struggling to keep the tears at bay.

The park felt exposed, but somehow safer. She waited, her gaze constantly scanning the horizon.