Gemotions

The world felt thick, sticky, like glue. Lisa stared at the screen, a message from "MusicMuse" asking to meet at a local jazz bar. The request landed like a lead weight in her stomach.

She considered the implications – getting dressed, facing people, engaging in conversation. The very idea drained her. She wanted nothing more than to curl up on the sofa and vanish. She knew she should be making an effort to socialize, but she felt too defeated to care.

She turned the corner, the bar's neon sign illuminating her face. MusicMuse was already waiting. It was time.