Gemotions

The sunlight streaming through Elias’s window seemed harsh, mocking the gravity of the official announcement taped to the lobby door. He felt a familiar ache in his jaw, the one that always accompanied feelings of helplessness. The building was their sanctuary, the place where he'd fostered relationships with his neighbors. He especially thought of the single mother on the first floor who was always kind to his puppy.

He’d always enjoyed the sound of the elevator, the way it clunked and groaned as it ascended to the upper floors. Now, the sound felt like a dirge. He found himself avoiding his usual route to the coffee shop, as if to delay the inevitable conversations he knew he’d have to endure.

He brought a casserole to the young mother’s door. He wanted to help, even in a small way. He had to do something.