Gemotions

Her footsteps were heavy as she climbed the stairs. Each step was a battle. She pushed the door open to a brightly lit apartment, the smell of something savory and unknown drifting through the air.

He rushed towards her, his face alight with excitement. "Ahlan wa sahlan, habibti!" he exclaimed. The words, so foreign, so clumsy, hit her like a physical blow. She staggered back, the breath forced out of her lungs.

A strange buzzing noise filled her ears. She felt disconnected from her body, as if she were watching herself from a distance. The thought of explaining her day, of pretending to be okay, felt like an insurmountable challenge. The world seemed to be closing in on her.