Gemotions

The hammering started just as Susan was about to settle into her favorite armchair with a cup of tea and a crossword. She flinched, the abrupt noise jarring her from her peaceful reverie. It was so inconsiderate, she thought.

She huffed a breath, her fingers tightening around the mug. Her perfectly curated silence, her afternoon ritual, was ruined. The constant pounding felt like a personal insult, an intentional disruption of her hard-won tranquility.

She slammed the mug on the table, the tea sloshing over the side. She would not be defeated. She would simply… find a new crossword. Somewhere else.