Gemotions

The headache throbbed behind her eyes, a relentless, punishing pressure. The neighbor’s words, though innocuous on the surface, echoed in her mind, distorted and amplified by her anxiety.

She kept the blinds drawn, cocooning herself in a perpetual twilight. The world outside felt menacing, full of unseen dangers. She was trapped, held hostage by her own apprehension.

Her fingers traced the contours of the doorknob, a constant, unconscious gesture. The thought of opening the door, of facing the unknown, sent a fresh wave of panic through her. It was a locked door, and she wanted to keep it that way.