Gemotions

Maya clutched the notice so tightly her knuckles were white. The typed words swam before her. "Failure to Pay… vacate premises." Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat in her ears. She sank onto the threadbare couch, the springs digging into her back.

The living room felt too small, the air thick and heavy. Her gaze flickered to the photographs on the mantelpiece, snapshots of happier times. Now, the smiles seemed distant, a cruel mockery. She ran a hand across her forehead, trying to wipe away the sweat that beaded there.

"Seven days," she whispered, the words catching in her throat. She needed to do something, anything. But the thought of facing the landlord, of explaining… paralyzed her. Her jaw clenched. She felt a growing sense of dread, a cold seep that spread through her limbs, rendering her inert.