Gemotions

The letter arrived in the mail. The noise complaints started months ago, and now they were official. John had spent all day at the library; he never even turned on his stereo. A wave of dizziness washed over him as he read the formalized condemnation.

His hands shook as he set down the letter. He sat down heavily in his chair, feeling the blood drain from his face. His apartment seemed to shrink around him, the walls closing in. The floor felt unsteady beneath his feet.

He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, and stared blankly at the floor. The world around him seemed to lose its form, the edges blurring. The noise complaints were still on his mind.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, the room looked different. Was it real? He felt an urgent need to run, to escape.