Gemotions

Michael sprawled on his couch, remote in hand, flicking through channels. His apartment was his sanctuary, a meticulously curated space of muted colors and comfortable textures. He’d spent years perfecting the arrangement of his books, the angle of the sunlight on his favorite armchair. The evening news droned in the background as he drifted from show to show, and he felt a peaceful contentment in the mundane.

A knock. Unexpected. He cautiously peered through the peephole. A woman, clutching an envelope, stared back. Her eyes met his, and he instantly knew it was a look he had seen many times before. The envelope carried news that would fracture the meticulous order of his existence, but he let her in.