Gemotions

The words on the notice blurred before Maya’s eyes. She had been humming to herself, contentedly watering her plants. The cheerful melody died in her throat. Her hands, usually steady, began to tremble, and she nearly knocked over a potted fern.

She sank back against the wall, her back sliding down until she was sitting on the floor. The cool linoleum offered no solace. The apartment seemed to shrink around her, the air thickening.

“No,” she whispered, her voice a fragile plea. She felt a knot forming in her stomach, tightening with each passing moment. This was a nightmare.