Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted from the kitchen, but she made no move to get up. The bed felt like a warm embrace, the covers a comforting shield. A dull ache throbbed behind her eyes, the result of a sleepless night. The thought of facing the day, of confronting the upheaval, was, in her present state, simply too much.

Her phone buzzed, vibrating on the bedside table. *Where are you? We need you here.* The text from her brother. She remained motionless. She could feel a pang of guilt, but it was quickly overshadowed by a sense of utter weariness. The world was demanding too much of her.

The sounds of demolition grew louder, the metallic clang of machinery echoing through the house. The chaos, however, was in the past and she stayed in the present.