Gemotions

The news landed like a lead weight in Emily’s stomach. A snake. A ball python, apparently. She froze, her hand halfway to her mouth, a half-eaten sandwich dangling precariously. Her eyes widened, fixated on Liam. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm that echoed the turmoil within.

A wave of heat surged through her, followed by a sudden chill that left her trembling. The familiar comfort of her surroundings – the worn sofa, the soft lighting – felt alien, threatening. She struggled to draw a breath, as if the air had been sucked from the room.

"A… a snake?" she managed, her voice a mere whisper, laced with disbelief. The images flooding her mind—the cold, smooth scales, the unblinking stare—made her want to flee. She felt trapped.