Gemotions

The news arrived in an email, and Sarah's world tilted. A half-sister. A secret kept for decades. She reread the email, each word a fresh cut. She felt a deep, instinctive need to protect herself.

She took to avoiding the park she loved. Instead of going there, she stayed indoors. She started following the news and reading the crime reports. She watched the people in her building, and always made sure to lock her door.

The paranoia started to grow, and she became increasingly isolated. She lost sleep. She was sure that she was being followed, that everyone was suspect. The world had become a dangerous place, filled with hidden threats.