Gemotions

The paper crackled in Amelia’s trembling hand. She sank onto the threadbare couch, the eviction notice a stark white beacon in the dim light of the apartment. Her vision swam, the words blurring into an incomprehensible mess. She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath that felt shallow and inadequate.

The weight of the unopened mail on the kitchen counter felt like a physical burden. Each bill, each letter, a tiny stone adding to the growing load. A single tear traced a path down her cheek, landing with a soft thud on the worn fabric of her jeans.

She needed to call her mother, but the thought of the conversation, the judgment, froze her in place. The phone seemed miles away, a treacherous landscape she couldn't bring herself to cross.