Gemotions

“Condos? Well, that’s… that's that, then," Emily murmured. The words felt like tiny pebbles falling into a bottomless well. She was looking at the flyer, the glossy paper practically shouting at her.

She picked up a book, a collection of short stories, and settled into her favorite armchair. The words swam before her eyes. She reread the first sentence three times, her mind refusing to grasp its meaning. It seemed so difficult to do anything.

She stared out the window. The street was quiet. Across the way, a cat perched on a fence, washing itself with slow, deliberate strokes. Emily watched, her gaze fixed. The cat's actions, and the sunlight, brought a peace over her.