Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with Saturday morning energy, but Amelia barely registered it. The headlines screamed at her from the screen of her laptop: “Diary Secrets Exposed!” Her cheeks burned. She pulled her oversized scarf tighter, as if to physically shield herself from the gazes she imagined were upon her. She pushed her lukewarm latte around the table, the foam already collapsing in on itself. The words, once so personal, now felt like a public indictment. Every memory, every vulnerable thought, was out there. She felt a profound weight, a leaden cloak upon her shoulders, that made even the simplest tasks feel monumental.