Gemotions

"So, what do you think?" Her mother’s voice was too loud, too cheerful. Emily stared at her, unable to form a response. The letter lay between them on the kitchen table, the words glaring. It felt like her world was starting to crumble, piece by piece.

She pushed her chair back, scraping it across the floor. She needed space, needed air. She walked into the garden, the bright sunlight stinging her eyes.

The trees seemed to lean in, watching her. A bird’s song grated on her nerves. She picked a flower and crushed it between her fingers. The petal dust coated her hands, and she felt a sickening pang of loss.