Gemotions

The hospital room was sterile, the air thick with the scent of antiseptic and despair. Ms. Baker stared at the ceiling, the fluorescent lights blurring through her tears. The constant beeping of the machines was a maddening soundtrack to her suffering. A small, carefully wrapped package had arrived, brought by a volunteer. Inside, a handmade blanket, knitted with vibrant colors. "Get well soon. - Ethan."

She clutched the blanket to her chest, the soft wool scratching against her skin. The kindness felt like a physical assault, a reminder of the life she could no longer lead. She closed her eyes, the familiar wave of nausea rising again.