Gemotions

He listened to the excited chatter of his neighbours in the hallway. They spoke of appraisals, of upgrades, of the future. He remained silent, a coldness spreading through his limbs. The building’s handyman, a man he'd known for years, suddenly felt like a stranger, the familiar greeting now replaced with awkward small talk.

He thought of the others on his floor. Old Mrs. Garcia, who lived alone; the struggling musician, whose late-night practice he’d always found comforting. The thought of them being pushed out, of them losing their places, filled him with a bitter taste.

He pulled out a beer and stared out the window. The city lights, once a source of inspiration, now felt distant, cold, and utterly out of reach.