Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the hospital waiting room did nothing to soothe Amelia’s nerves. Each tick of the clock on the wall felt like a judgment, each nervous glance from another patient an indictment of her own perceived failings. Her hands, perpetually clammy, twisted the worn strap of her purse. Why had she agreed to come? She should have just cancelled the appointment.

Her gaze landed on the man sitting across from her, a similar unease etched onto his face. He kept adjusting the collar of his shirt, pulling at it as if it were constricting him. She noticed the slight tremor in his hand as he reached for a water bottle.

"Is this your first time here?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. Amelia flinched. She hadn't expected to be addressed. "Yes," she managed, her voice cracking slightly.

"Me too," he replied, and for a fleeting moment, a spark of understanding passed between them. A shared experience, something she hadn't quite allowed herself to believe existed.