Gemotions

The bookstore was crowded, the air thick with the smell of paper and impending doom. Anna felt a cold dread creep through her as she walked along the stacks. The book, her book, *Anna Bellweather: The Unraveling*, was prominently displayed, the bright cover practically screaming her name.

She ran her hand along the titles, each one a silent judgment. She saw the cashier watching her, a neutral expression on her face. Her pulse quickened. The woman would recognize her. It was a certainty.

She felt a burning sensation in her chest, a need to escape. She fled the store, shoulders hunched, back rigid. She felt the gaze of the other customers like a physical assault. The feeling wouldn't leave her, even as she walked for hours.