Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the tempest brewing inside Clara. She crumpled the eviction notice again, the crisp paper now a damp, resentful ball in her trembling hand. Her neighbor, Mrs. Gable, a woman whose apartment overlooked the pristine courtyard, had always had everything. A garden bursting with vibrant blooms, a husband who still brought her flowers, and now, a life untouched by the landlord's wrath. Clara pictured Mrs. Gable's face, usually wreathed in the serenity of someone who’d never known struggle, a picture of untroubled peace. Her stomach churned, a bitter brew rising in her throat. She slammed her fist on the chipped countertop, the sound swallowed by the howling wind.