Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. A sudden, sharp ache blossomed in her temples. She closed the laptop, the screen reflecting her own bewildered expression. The comfortable familiarity of her bedroom, usually a sanctuary, now seemed hostile, the four walls closing in on her.

She rose and wandered aimlessly around the room, picking up objects and putting them back down without conscious thought. A framed photograph, a favorite book, a worn-out teddy bear - each a gentle reminder of the future she now feared she might not have.

The weight of it all pressed down on her, stealing her breath, leaving her feeling lost and adrift.