Gemotions

"Condo conversion. Effective immediately." The landlord’s terse email made Emily's skin prickle. She felt a burning sensation in her stomach. The words were a stark intrusion into her private space, her haven.

She tossed the phone onto the bed. Her fingers drummed against her thigh. The thought of inspections, of open houses, of strangers invading her privacy, set her teeth on edge.

She needed something to distract her. She reached for a novel, the weight of the book familiar and comforting. But her attention was scattered, her eyes darting across the page.