Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the market place seemed to blur around her. Sofia watched her husband, Javier, engrossed in a conversation with a vendor. He was laughing, gesturing with his hands, and the words that tumbled from his mouth were definitely not Spanish. They were a rapid-fire series of clicks and guttural sounds.

Sofia felt a tremor in her hands. She gripped her purse tightly, knuckles white. The air felt heavy, thick. She tried to catch Javier's eye, but he seemed oblivious to her presence. The joyful sounds of the marketplace had turned into a cacophony of meaningless noise. She felt a pressing urge to flee.