Gemotions

Clara felt a chill run down her spine as she read the letter. She had just put her groceries away. The scent of fresh bread and ripe tomatoes usually filled her with warmth, but today, she was overwhelmed by a sudden, icy sensation, a deep tremor.

She slowly lowered herself onto her kitchen chair. The apartment, her refuge for the last decade, suddenly seemed less secure, less hers. The vibrant colors of the kitchen felt too bright, the sounds of the city, usually a comforting backdrop, now seemed to press in on her.

"This can't be real," she murmured, her voice thin, hardly audible. She felt paralyzed, unable to move, unable to think.