Gemotions

The smell of stale beer and cheap cologne hit her first, followed by the sight of him, his face a mask of awkward eagerness. Her stomach churned. It was the same apartment building! She'd poured her heart out about this very apartment online.

“So… you?” He gestured around at the cramped, dimly lit room. He’d promised a vibrant, open-concept loft.

She forced a smile, but it felt like a rictus of pain. The chipped paint, the overflowing ashtray, the cheap furniture: every detail became a physical assault on her senses. She needed to escape, and quickly.