Gemotions

"I need to lie down," she announced, her voice barely a whisper. She pushed away from the table, her hands trembling. The restaurant, with its boisterous chatter and festive atmosphere, suddenly felt claustrophobic. The diagnosis, the shared anomaly, the other person - it all felt too much.

Across from her, the man she'd met at the specialist’s clinic looked at her with concern. She’d tried to be brave, tried to be normal. But now, she was cracking.

Her breath hitched in her chest. She needed to be alone. She pushed past the table, ignoring the waiter's confused look, and stumbled towards the exit. The fresh air hit her like a cold slap, but she couldn't seem to get enough of it.