Gemotions

She found the announcement on the communal bulletin board. Her breath hitched. The words, so stark, so decisive, made her heart pound a little. Her fingers, usually steady, fumbled with the clasp of her purse.

Later, she sat on her worn sofa, staring at the television, but the images blurred. The news anchor's voice droned on, but she didn’t hear it. Her gaze drifted to the empty space beside her. She had gotten used to the comforting presence of the sofa and herself.

A chill ran down her spine. The old building, with its creaks and quirks, was the only place she really felt safe. Now, everything felt precarious, like the foundation underneath was suddenly shifting, and that sense of displacement was difficult to bear.