Gemotions

The sudden announcement had robbed Maya of her energy. The harsh fluorescent lights of the diner seemed to buzz louder, each flicker a jarring interruption. "I'm going to be closer to my family in Texas," Chloe had said, her voice filled with a happy lilt. Maya felt a peculiar lightness, as if her own weight had suddenly diminished.

She toyed with a straw, the paper bending under her fingers. Her muscles felt loose, and everything was blurry at the edges. She heard Chloe's voice, detailing her new life, but the words swam through the fog in Maya's mind. The aroma of stale coffee was making her stomach turn.

A large, involuntary sigh escaped her lips. She longed for her own quiet space, for the comforting darkness of her bedroom. She leaned back against the vinyl booth, every movement a weary struggle.