Gemotions

The ticking clock on the wall seemed to amplify the silence. Each tick was a hammer blow against her skull. Claire stared at the unfinished crossword puzzle, the words blurring before her eyes. The dog’s incessant barking had already broken her concentration twice.

She slammed the puzzle down, the action a manifestation of her frustration. She felt a wave of despair wash over her. It had been like this for weeks. She'd been struggling to keep everything together. The dog's actions were just another thing on a long list of problems.

She rose from her chair, her legs heavy. "Ugh." She hated the feeling of losing her grip.