Gemotions

The crisp white paper trembled in Amelia’s hand. She reread the words, the legal jargon swimming before her eyes. Eviction. It wasn't possible. She'd always paid her rent on time, even when the hours at the bookstore were cut. Her breath hitched, a sudden, sharp intake that made her feel oddly cold despite the summer heat. She walked to the window and stared out at the bustling street, a kaleidoscope of colours and sounds that suddenly seemed distant and muffled.

Her fingers tightened, crumpling the notice slightly. What had she done wrong? She retraced the last few months in her mind, searching for an error, a forgotten payment, a breach of some clause she’d missed. Each memory was a dead end. She felt her chest constrict, a pressure building behind her ribs.

She reached for her phone, her hand shaking as she fumbled with the buttons. Who could she even call? Her best friend was on vacation, and her parents lived too far away. A hollow ache formed in the pit of her stomach, a feeling of freefall.