Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the dorm room as Maya unlocked the door, her hand still trembling slightly. She’d been gone for hours, trying to distract herself, but the knot in her stomach remained. She dropped her backpack with a thud, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. Across the room, Sarah was hunched over her laptop, pretending to be engrossed. Maya’s breath hitched. She busied herself with unpacking, meticulously arranging her pens and highlighters, even though she knew she couldn't focus. Each movement felt amplified, a desperate attempt to appear casual.

She glanced at the journal on her desk, its familiar blue cover now a source of dread. Did Sarah know about the panic attacks, the sleepless nights? Maya swallowed hard, the metallic taste of fear coating her tongue. "Everything alright?" Sarah asked, her voice too bright. Maya just nodded, her throat constricted. She retreated to the window, staring out at the campus, the cheerful chatter of students suddenly grating on her nerves. The world felt too loud, too close.