Gemotions

The low, thrumming hum of the refrigerator was the only sound in the apartment. Sarah lay on the couch, lost in a book. The afternoon sun, filtered through the blinds, cast long, lazy shadows across the room. Her bare feet were tucked beneath a soft throw.

She reached for a nearby glass of water and took a long drink. The cold liquid slid down her throat, soothing. A sense of contentedness settled over her, a feeling of being wholly present in the moment.

Then, a cacophony of banging and shouting erupted from the adjacent unit. The sound of destruction. The peace she had cultivated shattered.