Gemotions

The paper crackled in Elias’s trembling hands. The words swam before his eyes. Eviction. He had known this moment might come, but the reality still struck him like a physical blow. His chest constricted; he felt his breath hitch in his throat.

He backed away from the counter, bumping into a chair. The sudden movement sent a wave of nausea through him. He sank into it, the notice clutched tightly in his fist. Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a scene of serene normalcy that felt cruelly out of sync with the turmoil inside him.

His gaze flicked around the small apartment, cataloging each possession – the worn sofa, the chipped mug, the photographs on the wall. They were all he had.

A whimper escaped his lips. He pressed a hand against his mouth, trying to stifle the sound.