Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Maya's hand. She’d been waiting for a call. It would have been from Sophie, her friend, who'd told her she was a doctor. She'd regaled Maya with stories of long shifts, tough cases, and the emotional toll of saving lives. Now, the voice on the other end was Sophie’s mother, saying Sophie worked at a flower shop.

Maya’s jaw clenched. The revelation was not shocking, but it still felt like a punch. Her breath hitched. The carefully constructed image of Sophie, the brilliant, compassionate doctor, shattered into a million pieces.

She felt a wave of nausea. Why? Why the elaborate deception? The thought churned in her mind. Her gaze was fixed on the wall, her eyes unfocused, as if trying to penetrate the solid brick.