Gemotions

The lawyer had warned her. The court date was a formality. He had laid out the likely outcome with practiced efficiency. Now, here it was. The notice. Sarah crumpled the paper in her fist, then smoothed it out, smoothing it out again and again. The wrinkles, like the lines around her eyes, seemed to deepen with each pass. The harsh fluorescent light of the apartment cast long shadows, stretching and distorting the familiar space. She walked slowly to the couch, sat down, and stared blankly at the television screen. Another season, another defeat.