Gemotions

The notice fluttered from Sarah's grasp, landing softly on the dusty wooden floor. Her vision blurred, and the world seemed to spin. She hadn’t prepared for this. She had imagined a future here, a safe haven. It felt as though a rug had been pulled from under her feet, and she was falling through an endless void.

She sat heavily on the bed, her legs leaden. She picked at the worn fabric of the quilt, a futile attempt to ground herself. The silence of the apartment was broken only by the frantic hammering of her own heart. She felt a burning sensation in her throat, a stifled cry.

Memories flickered across her mind: the laughter shared with friends, the cozy nights spent reading. All of it now threatened, vulnerable. She hugged herself tightly, as though she could ward off the approaching storm.