Gemotions

The silence in the room was deafening after her Aunt Carol had made her announcement. Across the table, the old silver locket, glinting under the kitchen lights, seemed to mock her. It was a piece she had always coveted. Now, it was going. The air felt thin and difficult to breathe.

She excused herself and went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. Her reflection stared back, the lines around her eyes more pronounced than usual. She found herself clutching the sink as the room spun.

She knew she should say something, do something, but the words and actions were trapped. She couldn’t seem to find them. The feeling of being paralyzed, of being trapped, began to grow.