Gemotions

The notice lay on the counter, a silent accusation. He stared at it, the words swimming before his eyes. He felt a strange detachment, as if watching a movie about someone else. He took a long drag from his cigarette, the smoke clouding the already stale air.

He hadn't cleaned the apartment in weeks. Clothes lay strewn across the floor, unwashed dishes piled in the sink. The phone buzzed with unanswered calls, but he couldn't bring himself to respond.

The future stretched before him, a vast and empty desert. He had nowhere to go, nothing to do, and the thought of starting over felt simply impossible. He crushed out his cigarette, the ash scattering across the counter, and stared at the eviction notice, waiting for something to happen.