Gemotions

The first thing that hit him was the silence. The usually noisy building, filled with the sounds of children, music, and the occasional argument, had suddenly grown quiet, heavy with an unspoken tension. He knew.

He'd always prided himself on being practical, on making the sensible decisions. Buying a place of his own had always been a priority. He'd always thought this building was just a temporary fix.

He avoided eye contact with the other residents, ducking into his apartment as soon as he saw anyone. The thought of their displacement, their struggles, hung over him. He felt…unsettled.