Gemotions

The stark language of the eviction notice hung over Ava like a suffocating cloud. She was usually an unflappable person, a problem-solver. But not now. It was the presence of him, the man she saw every morning at the coffee shop, that now dominated her thoughts.

She had constructed a detailed portrait of him in her mind, his habits, his quirks, the way he always ordered a black coffee. She imagined him learning of her troubles. She saw a flicker of concern in his eyes, felt the gentle curve of his lips. Her cheeks burned.

The prospect of never seeing him again, of never knowing if her carefully constructed fantasy had any basis in reality, was devastating. The apartment, the furniture, the financial burden - all insignificant compared to the potential loss of a dream.