Gemotions

She chewed on the inside of her cheek, a nervous habit that had intensified recently. The incessant barking, followed by the familiar scuttling sound, was like a relentless tickle in the back of her brain. She felt a growing, helpless desperation.

She sank into the kitchen chair, the morning light too harsh, too revealing. The dog, a scruffy terrier mix, was currently attempting to scale the bird feeder, scattering seeds across the manicured lawn. Her hand shook as she reached for her mug of lukewarm coffee, the bitterness of it reflecting the taste in her mouth.

She had to get ready for work, to face another day. But how could she focus, how could she function, with this ongoing, ceaseless disruption? The thought of facing another meeting, another task, felt overwhelming.

She felt a wave of nausea.