Gemotions

She found herself paralyzed. Her legs wouldn't obey. Her eyes darted around the crowded space, seeking an exit, any escape. The gallery owner was moving towards her. He was smiling. A broad, predatory smile.

Her throat ached as she felt her body become stiff and heavy. The air grew thin, and each breath was a desperate gasp. Her paintings. *Her* deeply personal, vulnerable creations were everywhere, under bright lights. Her heart felt as though it was trying to leap out of her chest.

He extended a hand. She needed to say something, anything. But the words caught in her throat, a useless, suffocating ball. Her vision blurred, and the faces of the people around her began to swim. She felt the ground start to shift.