Gemotions

The phone felt like a hot coal in Clara's hand. "We have a match," the detective had said, a bland statement in a voice devoid of emotion. Her hands were clammy. She’d always considered herself an only child. Now, this… this intrusion. She moved to the window, the city lights reflecting in her wide eyes. The world outside seemed distant, unreal. She hugged herself, a small, involuntary gesture, as if warding off a cold. The detective's voice echoed in her mind: “He wants to meet.” The thought sent a fresh wave of… unease, like a sudden drop in an elevator.