Gemotions

The phone rang, jolting Sarah from her reverie. She hadn’t slept in days. "Congratulations, you've been selected for a feature on 'Culinary Creations'!" Her throat tightened. "Chef Lorenzo's signature bouillabaisse!"

Her name, her life’s work, was being usurped. She wanted to yell, to refuse, to hang up and disappear. Instead, she found herself nodding, her voice a croak as she agreed to the interview.

Her hands were clammy, her palms slick. The thought of facing the world, of pretending to be okay, sent a wave of dizziness through her. She felt like she was trapped in a cage, watching her freedom slowly drain away.

She closed her eyes, trying to find a moment of peace. The image of the interview, the cameras, the lies, made her stomach writhe with anxiety.