Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the bleakness inside Arthur’s small, cluttered flat. He hadn't bothered to shave, his reflection in the bathroom mirror a stranger with eyes that seemed perpetually clouded over. Days blurred together, each one a monochrome replica of the last.

Then, he noticed the renovations next door. The modest semi-detached was undergoing a complete transformation. Heavy machinery roared, obscuring the sounds of the city, and workers swarmed like ants. One day, a man in a crisp suit, the contractor, knocked on Arthur's door, apologizing for the noise. He revealed that their neighbor, Mr. Peterson, had sold his tech company and was upgrading his house.

Arthur swallowed hard, a knot tightening in his throat. He went back inside, to the empty space where his dreams had once resided.