Gemotions

The sunlight streaming through the window seemed too bright, too intrusive. Sarah pressed herself against the wall, her hand over her mouth. The photos told a different story. Her mother, the woman who had always preached virtue and honesty, was draped around a sailor on a ship, her eyes alive with a joy that was never shown in front of Sarah.

Her vision blurred. The world around her tilted. She couldn't feel her feet, as if she were floating. The air itself felt thick, making her gulp for oxygen. Sarah's hands were clammy, her palms slick. A moan escaped her, a sound of pure panic.