Gemotions

The train rattled along the tracks, the rhythmic clack a poor substitute for peace. Sarah stared out the window, the passing landscape a blur of green and brown. Her nails dug into the worn fabric of her purse. The upcoming interview had become a knot in her stomach.

She opened the paperback she’d bought at the station. Halfway through the story, a small card fell out. It was a photograph, faded and creased. A couple, smiling, stood in front of a house. On the back, a few words were scrawled: "Don't let them take it from you."

Her breath caught in her throat. The advice, meant for someone else, felt like a direct warning.