Gemotions

The noise from next door was a physical intrusion, a relentless assault on his senses. He paced his apartment, the music following him, a mocking reminder of his solitude. He’d tried to focus on his work, but the words on the screen blurred, the meaning lost in the pounding rhythm.

He slammed his laptop shut, the sudden silence immediately filled by the insistent thumping. The sound seemed to burrow into his bones, a constant ache. He needed to get away, to escape.

He grabbed his coat and keys, the thought of facing the world more appealing than staying here. He slipped out his door, and then turned back again. He couldn't leave. The music was the only thing keeping him company.