Gemotions

The cafeteria buzzed with a low, anxious murmur. Chloe picked at her salad, unable to swallow more than a few bites. The food, usually a welcome distraction, now tasted like sawdust. She watched other students, their faces etched with the same uncertainty, the same fear.

She kept checking her phone, expecting a deluge of messages. Each vibration sent a jolt of anxiety through her. She felt like she was trapped in a pressure cooker, the steam rising.

She took a deep breath, trying to regain control. She knew she had to face the reality, make a plan. But for now, all she could manage was to sit there, and feel the cold knot forming in her gut.