Gemotions

He snatched the envelope from the hallway table, his fingers clumsy with a sudden tremor. The crisp white of the eviction notice screamed against the dingy wallpaper. He ripped it open, the paper tearing with a violent finality that mirrored the explosion in his chest.

His breathing hitched, shallow and rapid. He paced the small living room, the worn rug feeling slick beneath his feet. He could feel the pulse in his neck, a furious drumbeat against his skin. His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.

“Unbelievable,” he choked out, his voice thin and reedy. The walls of his apartment seemed to close in, suffocating him with the weight of this… this injustice. He slammed a fist into the sofa cushion, the impact a brief, inadequate release.