Gemotions

The invitation had slipped from Maya's fingers, landing face down on the polished wood floor. She really should pick it up, she knew. Sarah's party. She vaguely remembered agreeing to help set up. But the thought of moving felt like an immense effort, a herculean task. The midday sun streamed through the window, warm and heavy. A long, drawn-out sigh escaped her.

Across the room, the cat, Mittens, stretched luxuriously, then curled into a tight ball on the couch. Envy bloomed within Maya. A low groan escaped her lips.

"Just a little while," she muttered, her voice thick and slow, "Just a tiny nap..." She closed her eyes, the edges of the room blurring at the corners. The aroma of brewing coffee, usually a comfort, now felt like a distant, unimportant thing.