Gemotions

A chill seeped into Lena’s bones, mirroring the icy message on the cream-colored paper. She sat at the kitchen table, the eviction notice a stark white rectangle against the stained wood. The apartment felt suffocating, each corner a cage.

She tapped her fingernails against the table. The rhythmic sound was a desperate drumbeat against the silence. Her stomach churned. The rent was always a stretch, and now this. A wave of nausea washed over her.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath. She pushed away from the table, a physical release of frustration. She needed space, a vast expanse to contain the chaos building inside. She pulled on her coat and slammed the door behind her.