Gemotions

"Okay, okay," Chloe muttered to herself, staring at the text. "Just breathe." Her online friend, "PixelPusher," a gamer she'd spent countless nights with, wanted to meet at the arcade down the street. It was only two blocks away, but suddenly it felt like a marathon.

Her fingers trembled as she typed a reply. The arcade, once a haven of fun, now loomed like a potential trap. She felt a cold dread creeping into her limbs, turning them to lead. She looked around her apartment. Everything seemed too bright, too loud.

She felt a sudden urge to flee, to disappear. Maybe she could just tell him she got sick? No, that was too obvious. She slowly walked toward the door, trying to shake the feeling of being watched.