The next morning was a tad slow for Azaria. She felt off since the very moment she woke up. Her chest felt heavy and she felt as though she was inexplicably missing something.
Throughout the stretch of her morning routine, an unsettling sensation began to take root in the centre of her chest. It wasn't physical pain, but rather, it felt like a persistent heaviness that made her breathe just a bit deeper to try and clear it.
Azaria found herself pausing mid-motion, her eyes tracking empty spaces as she searched for a reason behind the strange hollowness that seemed to settle over her. It felt as though she had walked out of her apartment having forgotten something vital, yet no matter how many times she mentally checked her keys, her wallet, or her schedule, she couldn't place what it was. The feeling was quiet enough to manage. It just felt like a small hum of dissatisfaction that was easy enough to push to the back of her mind and ignore as she went about her day.
