Gemotions

She found herself walking slowly through the park during her lunch break, a rare indulgence. The crisp autumn air did little to soothe the tightness in her chest. She found herself clutching her purse.

She saw the families, the couples, the people enjoying themselves. Everyone seemed so relaxed, so untroubled. She would never feel like that.

She thought about the sacrifices she'd made to get where she was, the years of pushing, striving, and doubting herself. All of it hinged on this single decision.

She sat on a bench, the cold seeping through her coat. She watched the leaves fall from the trees and wondered if she could bear to fall as well.