Gemotions

"Three weeks," Maya muttered, the words a sour taste on her tongue. Eviction. She crumpled the notice, tossing it onto the overflowing pile of junk mail on her coffee table. It was the end of a chapter, and an abrupt one at that. She knew the consequences but all she could think about was the man in the corner unit.

The prospect of never seeing him again sent a jolt of panic through her. She'd become accustomed to his quiet presence, to the way he'd hold the door open for her, the way their eyes would meet in the elevator. She felt breathless, a strange tightening in her chest.

She abruptly rose, pacing her small living room. She replayed their casual conversations in her head, dissecting the nuances of his tone, the way his eyes would crinkle when he smiled. The thought of him, with his easy charm and infectious laughter, fading into memory was suddenly unbearable.