Gemotions

The eviction notice was clutched tightly in her hand, the paper crumpled from her grip. Clara sat on the fire escape, the city noises below barely registering. The wind whipped at her hair, but she felt no cold. Her gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, a blurry expanse of steel and glass.

She hadn't spoken to anyone in days. Her phone was off. Her fridge was empty. She felt the hollow ache in her chest, the dull throb behind her eyes. Everything felt distant, muted, as if observed from behind a pane of frosted glass.

She closed her eyes, and a single tear traced a path down her cheek, leaving a cool streak. She felt so weary, so utterly drained. The thought of moving, of finding a new place, seemed an insurmountable obstacle. The sheer effort of it made her want to surrender.