Gemotions

The aroma of burnt coffee hung heavy in the air, mirroring the leaden feeling in Evelyn's heart. She'd spent the morning in her pajamas, ignoring the mounting pile of laundry and the unread emails on her laptop. The silence of her apartment was suffocating, amplifying the echo of her own thoughts. She felt unable to move forward, paralyzed in the moment.

A sharp rap on the door broke the quiet. Her boyfriend, Ben, had forgotten his keys. She opened the door and instead of him, stood a blonde woman, holding a bouquet of flowers. "Hi, I'm here to pick up Ben," she said, her voice bright. Evelyn's breath caught in her throat.