Gemotions

The news arrived via a targeted ad on her social media feed, a cruel algorithm capitalizing on her past searches. She clicked on the link, her stomach immediately twisting into a knot. The website was bright and breezy, all staged furniture and carefully chosen angles.

She moved her cursor across the screen, each image a fresh wave of agitation. The living room, where she'd spent countless hours reading, now felt sterile and impersonal. The kitchen, where her grandmother had taught her to bake, felt alien.

She slammed the laptop shut, the sound echoing in the silent apartment. She wanted to scream. She got up and began pacing, the steps echoing, the floorboards groaning in protest.