Gemotions

The sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Sarah watched them, mesmerized, for a long, long time. Her tea had gone cold. She pushed it away, the ceramic cup clinking against the table. The apartment felt too quiet, too still.

The flyer slipped through the mail slot. A glossy image of the building, now rendered in pristine, aspirational detail. A presentation about becoming a homeowner, it promised. She crumpled it in her hand, the paper crackling loudly in the silence. It landed in the trash.

Her gaze drifted to the window again. She thought about going out, but the thought of leaving the building, of interacting with people, felt…difficult. She sank back into the sofa, pulling the throw blanket tighter, a small, helpless gesture against an unknown chill.