Gemotions

The email arrived like a poisoned dart. Subject: "Regarding your recent lab results." Eleanor tossed her phone onto the kitchen counter. It buzzed again, with another notification.

It was from the specialist, Dr. Chen. She'd been expecting the same standard boilerplate. Instead, it was an invitation. An invitation to meet another patient, someone who shared her condition.

Eleanor scoffed. As if. She deleted the email without a second thought, the screen reflecting her own grimace. A support group? A buddy system? She had survived this long alone, and she’d be damned if she was going to let some stranger intrude. The thought of sharing her space, her life, with someone else who understood… it made her feel sick.