Gemotions

"Impossible," Maya breathed, staring at the printout. “Severe arthritis.” That diagnosis, coupled with a string of other ailments, belonged to a woman named Agnes something-or-other. Maya was thirty-two and had the knees of a teenager.

She felt a tremor run through her. The doctor, bless her heart, had been nothing but kind. Yet, Maya couldn't shake the feeling of being exposed. Everything, from her youthful gait to her daily gym routine, felt like a blatant lie.

She started avoiding her reflection, finding herself scrutinizing the lines on her face, searching for signs of the ailments she didn't possess. Even her posture felt off, as though she was trying to prove something. Her usual confidence had evaporated.