Gemotions

He felt a chill, despite the summer heat. His hands were clammy as he unfolded the envelope, the crispness of the paper a stark contrast to the way his stomach clenched. The words jumped out at him, each sentence a blow. He lowered himself to the floor, his legs suddenly weak. He looked around the small apartment, his home for ten years.

David traced a finger along the worn wooden floorboards, a familiar comfort he was about to lose. The silence of the apartment pressed in, thick and heavy. He thought of his elderly neighbor, Mrs. Henderson, and the friendly wave she gave him every morning. How could he face her knowing?

His throat constricted, and he had trouble swallowing. He thought of the boxes he would need, the places he might need to go, the unfamiliar future that he was being forced into. He hugged his knees to his chest.