Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked down Maya's back. She felt exposed, vulnerable, as though all her secrets were suddenly painted on the walls for everyone to see. The journal, resting innocently on her pillow, a book she had clutched to herself at night, now felt like a viper in her hands. The air in the dorm room, usually stale and familiar, felt thick, suffocating.

She barely registered her roommate, Chloe, entering the room. Chloe began to make small talk, as though nothing was different. Her voice sounded far away. Maya’s throat constricted, making it impossible to respond.

Her stomach lurched, and she placed a hand over it. She turned away, needing to put distance between herself and Chloe, between herself and this betrayal. She grabbed her bag and stumbled out the door, the flimsy fabric of her t-shirt suddenly feeling restrictive. The campus cafeteria, normally a place of comfort, seemed to close in around her.