Gemotions

The clatter of the scaffolding being erected was a constant, unwelcome presence. "It's fine," I told myself, as the sun went down. It was probably fine. But my voice sounded thin and strained, even to me.

I hadn’t spoken to the new neighbors. It was almost as if I didn't want to. I’d seen them, of course, happy, together. Their energy felt like a physical weight, pressing me into my chair. Tonight, I ate dinner alone, every bite a struggle. The silence in my apartment was now a loud, empty echo.