Gemotions

"Eviction," Thomas repeated, the word sounding hollow in his echoing apartment. He felt a strange detachment, as if the news didn't really concern him. It was a problem he would solve. What had really pierced him was the idea of never seeing her again, the girl he saw in the laundromat.

He thought of her smile, the way she always wore the same worn-out sneakers, her hair pulled back into a messy bun. He recalled the few casual exchanges they’d shared. He felt a sharp pang of regret, a deep sense of loss.

He ran a hand through his hair, his fingers tangling. He wanted to make some grand, bold move, something that would stop her from disappearing from his life. He pictured her face, and his insides suddenly felt light and buoyant. He had to act.