Gemotions

From behind the counter, Sarah watched the nurse’s expression shift from polite professionalism to something… else. A hesitation, a slight furrow of the brow. Sarah’s grip tightened on the worn strap of her purse. The nurse had been reviewing her file. The file that contained someone else's life, someone else's health history.

She forced a smile, but her lips felt stiff. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed too bright, too intrusive. Her breathing grew shallow and quick, as though she were climbing a flight of stairs. She waited, anticipation clawing at her composure.