Gemotions

The gate slammed shut behind her, the sound a sharp, unwelcome crack. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple. She hadn’t slept well since the notice arrived. The thought of the fence, the solid barrier separating her from the world, tightened her chest.

She hurried inside, locking the deadbolt, sliding the security chain across. Her gaze darted from window to window, checking each lock. The curtains felt like a suffocating blanket.

Her reflection in the glass was a stranger. Wide eyes, a pale face, the lines around her mouth etched deeper. She just wanted to hide, to disappear.