Gemotions

She stared at the note propped up on her kitchen counter. "Kindly keep the noise down," it read, penned in a shaky, unfamiliar hand. Mrs. Petrov, from upstairs, had finally had enough. She had always seemed so gentle. Now the words burned into her mind.

A feeling of intense agitation coursed through her. She was usually considerate, she told herself. But the music, the way it made her feel… the beat, the drums, the singing. She knew she hadn't listened.

She picked at a chipped nail, the sharp edges mirroring the jagged edges of her emotions. The party had been meant to be a celebration, a release. Now, the memory of it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She wished she could undo it. She didn't.