Gemotions

The paper crackled in Eleanor’s trembling hands. It wasn't the noise that startled her, though. Her vision swam, the words blurring until they seemed to dance on the page. She blinked, once, twice, but the lines still writhed. She didn’t remember putting her coat on. Where was she going? The grocery store? No. The library? Maybe.

She stumbled to the chipped porcelain sink, splashed cold water on her face. The shock jolted her, momentarily clearing her head. The eviction notice lay like a death threat on the counter. Tears pricked her eyes. She needed to sit down.

The wooden kitchen chair felt foreign beneath her. She hugged herself, trying to find some anchor in the spinning world. A car horn blared outside, a discordant scream that made her jump. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could rewind time, somehow erase the last few months.