Gemotions

The smell of freshly brewed coffee, strong and rich, filled the small apartment. David sat at the table, flipping through the pages of his favorite novel. The city's morning sounds were muted, background noise to his peaceful world. A slow, steady calm had come over him recently.

A harsh rapping on the door broke the spell. It was Mr. Chen, his neighbor, his face contorted with displeasure.

"The drumming! It’s gone on for far too long!" he exclaimed, his voice raised. "My wife is trying to sleep! It is completely unacceptable!"

David winced slightly. "Oh, Mr. Chen, I'm so very sorry," he said, already thinking of how he could improve his soundproofing. "I will move the drums and stop the noise. I'll make it so there's no more noise at all."