Gemotions

The phone rang, shattering the fragile peace of her lunch break. It was her mother, chirping about something inconsequential. Susan, normally so patient, found herself snapping, her voice sharp and abrupt. She regretted it instantly. The news from the morning had left her feeling fragile. She wanted to be left alone. She wanted to scream.

Her mouth felt dry, her tongue thick. She barely touched her sandwich, the food suddenly tasteless. The conversation with her mother ended quickly, leaving Susan with a renewed sense of isolation. She stared out the window, watching the pedestrians below. Their lives seemed so effortless, so untroubled. She felt a profound and aching loneliness.