Gemotions

David hated the late-night karaoke sessions emanating from the apartment upstairs. He just wanted to sleep. He knew that the people up there loved to sing. But the sheer volume of their performances gave him a headache.

He climbed the stairs, his steps slow.

When the door opened, he looked at his neighbor’s face and imagined the joy they got from singing.

“I was wondering,” he began, “if we could maybe tone down the singing a bit, especially after, say, 11 pm?” He stopped, feeling a flush creep up his neck.

He finished his sentence softly. “Sorry to be a bother.”