Gemotions

"Condo conversion?" The words tasted like ash in her mouth. She'd poured her heart and soul into making her apartment a home. She'd painstakingly painted the walls, hung her grandmother's quilts. Now, all that effort felt… pathetic.

She saw the building manager in the hallway. He gave a bland smile, a patronizing nod. Her cheeks burned. She wanted to scream. She retreated into her apartment and slammed the door.

She spent the afternoon rearranging her furniture, as if she could somehow reclaim control. Each shift was met with growing frustration. She felt a deep, consuming sense of powerlessness, like she’d been stripped bare.