Gemotions

David’s hands trembled as he read the words, the paper crinkling and cracking under his grip. Eviction. He felt a sudden, sharp ache in his chest, a sensation he couldn’t quite define. It wasn't the rent, the repairs, or the broken appliances. It was the girl in 3B.

He thought of her often, the way she wore her hair, the quick spark in her eyes, the music that drifted from her apartment late at night. He imagined her reaction to his news, the soft sympathy in her voice, the way she might offer to help him pack. His palms were suddenly slick with sweat.

He envisioned a series of impossible scenarios, each involving her, each a desperate attempt to delay the inevitable. He’d never even spoken to her, yet now he felt a sense of profound loss, as if he were already saying goodbye.