Gemotions

The world tilted on its axis, or at least, that’s how it felt to Maya. Her neighbor, the jovial Mr. Peterson, stood beaming at her, a shovel leaning innocently against his leg. He was requesting to use a portion of her backyard for... vegetables. Vegetables! She felt a cold prickle race up her spine.

Her hands flew up, instinctively covering her mouth as if to stem the flow of words that threatened to spill out. Her eyes widened, focusing on the small crack in the concrete walkway, as if it suddenly held the utmost importance.

“I…I just…I need a moment,” she mumbled, her voice barely a whisper. The air felt thin, difficult to breathe. This was entirely unprecedented.