Gemotions

The paper crackled in Amelia's shaking hands. She reread the words, the black ink blurring at the edges. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. She dropped the notice onto the cluttered kitchen table, the sudden noise making her jump. Her breath hitched. The stale air in the apartment felt thick, suffocating. She ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the strands.

The eviction notice was a slap in the face. How could this be happening? She'd paid rent, hadn’t she? The memory of the overdue bill, tucked away in the overflowing junk drawer, flickered in her mind. Shame burned in her cheeks. She sank into a chair, the plastic cold against her skin.

Panic clawed at her throat. She needed to think, to plan. But the thoughts wouldn’t form, a jumbled mess in her head. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to force the chaos to recede. The sound of the ticking clock on the wall seemed to amplify the silence.