Gemotions

"The penthouse," the agent said, gesturing towards the building. "It's the ultimate." Maya just wanted to vanish. She felt every stain, every imperfection of her apartment magnified. Her cheap furniture. Her worn-out carpet.

She used to love her building, its history, its character. Now, it felt like an embarrassment. The new tenants would be wealthy, sophisticated.

She turned away from the tour group, her shoulders hunched. She found the stairs and climbed them, taking each step carefully, as if she were carrying the weight of the world.