Gemotions

Eliza stared at her reflection in the darkened window of her apartment, a city landscape blurred behind her. She had been trading emails with "StarryEyed," a fellow artist, for years. They’d built a bond over shared art. Now, she'd texted that she was across the street.

She felt a strange tightness in her chest, making it difficult to breathe. Her apartment felt different. The comforting familiarity was gone, replaced by a sense of foreboding. She hated the idea of disappointing her, but she wanted to run away.

She took a long look at her reflection. She wished the face looking back at her was less pale, less strained. She wanted to be able to enjoy the meeting, but the mere idea sent her mind into a frenzy.