Gemotions

“What did I do?” Clara asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Her neighbor, a burly man named Frank, stood in front of her, his face contorted in anger. He claimed she was "screeching" at all hours of the night. She loved to read quietly and watch TV. She couldn't understand.

She took a shaky breath, trying to calm the rapid beating of her heart. She couldn't stop staring at Frank. He filled the doorway, his presence overwhelming. She felt the sudden urge to hide.

She rubbed her arms, her skin prickling with goosebumps. She felt a growing sense of isolation, as if she were adrift in a sea of misunderstanding. She looked around her apartment, a place she considered her haven, and now it felt alien.