Gemotions

The tremor in her hands made it difficult to hold the phone. She had the number for the noise complaint line dialed, but her finger hovered over the call button. The clamor next door was a constant assault, a physical weight pressing down on her chest.

She imagined them, oblivious, ripping apart the structure that separated them. The thought made her stomach twist. The house felt like it was closing in around her, the walls shrinking. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing pulse.

She'd started leaving the television on all day, the volume cranked up, hoping to drown out the noise. It wasn't working. The sounds of destruction still echoed in her bones. The phone slipped from her grasp and clattered to the floor. She slowly picked it up, replaced it on the table and sat in silence, staring at the wall.