Gemotions

The silence in the art studio was almost unbearable, broken only by the scratch of chalk on the blackboard. Elara ran a hand over her canvas, her fingers leaving streaks in the wet paint. She'd been working on a self-portrait, but today, the image staring back at her felt alien. The colors seemed muted, the lines blurred. She kept stepping back from the easel, then rushing forward, making small adjustments, only to step back again and again. Her breath hitched. The thought of losing her haven, her safe space, felt like a physical blow.