Gemotions

The electronic screams from the video game next door were grating on her nerves. Each "pew pew" and "boom" was a stab to the eardrums. She pressed her hands against her ears, hoping to shut out the relentless noise. Her head throbbed, a dull ache that intensified with every digital explosion.

The doorbell chimed, a shrill, unwelcome sound. She hesitated, paralyzed by a sudden, intense fear. She took a deep breath, steeling herself, and opened the door. Her neighbor, Mr. Chen, was standing there, his expression grim. "The volume," he said, his voice clipped and precise. "It is excessive. We can't concentrate."

Her cheeks burned. She wanted to scream, to lash out, but all she could manage was a weak, "I'm sorry." The pressure in her chest intensified. The world narrowed to just the two of them, and Mr. Chen’s disapproving gaze felt like a judgement. She wanted to disappear.