Gemotions

The courtroom was a blur of hushed whispers and legal jargon. Fiona fidgeted in her seat, her palms slick with sweat. Beside her, Liam, her older brother, remained remarkably still. He wasn't particularly interested in the family’s estate.

The judge’s voice, a monotone drone, announced the details. Fiona was left with her mother's jewelry collection, a collection of baubles and trinkets. Liam inherited the company, the family's successful and growing tech startup.

A wave of nausea washed over Fiona. Jewelry. He got the success, the future. She felt a tightening in her chest. She needed to get out. The air felt thin, and the room seemed to spin. She stood up abruptly, muttering something about needing some air, and fled.

Outside, the city seemed to press in on her, the noise and the movement overwhelming. She leaned against a brick wall, feeling utterly deflated. The world, which had seemed so promising just moments before, now felt impossibly distant.