Gemotions

Eliza stretched languidly, the silk of her pajamas sliding across her skin. The gentle breeze whispered through the open window, carrying with it the scent of blooming jasmine. She’d spent the morning reading, lost in the pages of a captivating novel. She'd decided to make herself a cup of tea and luxuriate in the afternoon.

A sharp rap on the door broke her concentration. She sighed, a small sound of mild annoyance. The landlord, Mr. Henderson, stood on her doorstep, his face etched with disapproval. He handed her a folded paper, muttering something about unpaid rent. The crisp document, filled with legal jargon, dropped from her suddenly numb fingers.