Gemotions

The house seemed to shrink around Sarah. The rooms were smaller, the furniture more worn. The familiar smells of her parents' cooking, which she used to crave, now filled her with a sense of unease. She'd been independent for so long, and now... this.

Her mother kept offering her tea, and asking her if she was sure she was comfortable. Every time, Sarah found herself wanting to scream, "No!" She wasn't comfortable. She wasn't sure of anything.

She’d spent the whole day just sitting. She sat on the couch, staring at the television. She sat at the kitchen table, staring out the window. She felt pinned, rooted to the spot, unable to move forward or back. Each slow tick of the clock was another reminder of her stalled life.

When her father came in and tried to give her a hug, she stiffened, and couldn’t bring herself to return the gesture.