Gemotions

The email notification on Chloe's phone buzzed, announcing the arrival of another forwarded message from her friend, Emily. Chloe opened it, braced. Inside was a link, a real estate listing in North Carolina. Her breath hitched. She scrolled through the pictures of the quaint, sun-drenched house, its manicured lawn a stark contrast to her own cluttered apartment. A bitter taste coated her tongue.

She slammed the phone down, her hand trembling. The room seemed smaller, the walls closing in. She felt a prickling heat behind her eyes. She usually loved hearing from Emily but now, the constant updates, the planning, felt like a personal affront. She walked to her window and stared out at the street. The world looked foreign, and distant, a place she was no longer sure she belonged to.