Gemotions

The sudden email notification had ripped through Sarah’s quiet afternoon. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the silence of the library. It was from Chloe, detailing the move, the plans, the new city. The screen blurred before Sarah’s eyes, the words swimming.

She hadn't realized how much her breath had quickened until she was struggling to get a full inhale. Her fingers, usually steady, fumbled as she tried to close the laptop. The cool metal felt slick against her clammy palms. She needed to tell someone.

The library, usually a haven, now felt oppressive, the stacks of books towering over her like silent, judging sentinels. She pushed back from the table, the chair scraping loudly against the floor, a sound that amplified the racing thud in her chest.