Gemotions

The clatter of dishes in the sink was a relentless noise, mocking her attempts at calm. “Friend Request: Kevin Walsh.” The words swam before Maya’s eyes, blurring into an unintelligible mess. She felt a tightness in her chest, a constriction that made it difficult to breathe. Her thesis defense loomed, and she felt suffocated by the work. Kevin's name dragged her back to a past she'd worked so hard to bury. She felt trapped, the walls of her tiny apartment closing in. She furiously scrubbed a plate, the sound echoing in the small room.