Gemotions

The air in the apartment felt thick and stale, each breath a struggle. Sarah sat on the floor, surrounded by discarded art supplies. The vibrant colors mocked her, a painful reminder of her lost passion. She felt hollow, devoid of energy.

Her phone buzzed, a message from "BookwormBabe": “Just got a new delivery from that local bookstore we always talk about. Showed you that one place, right?” Attached was a photo of a new book.

Sarah stared at the message, the words swimming before her eyes. They both had discussed living in the same vicinity, a fact that had always seemed remote and abstract. The thought of this person knowing her, seeing her, felt heavy and difficult. She put her phone down, the screen cold against the hardwood floor.