Gemotions

The envelope sat on the kitchen counter, its white surface a stark contrast to the clutter surrounding it. Sarah avoided looking at it, busy washing dishes with meticulous care. The water felt cold against her skin, but she didn't notice. Her movements were jerky, as if her bones had lost their fluidity. The soap suds foamed up, a meaningless white cloud.

She finally turned off the tap and dried her hands, carefully, deliberately, before she slowly reached for the notice. She felt it, the weight of the paper in her hand, the impending doom that it carried. Her vision blurred, and the words danced before her eyes.

A sigh escaped her, a trembling release of pent-up breath. She bit her lip and then, with a shake of her head, started to scrub the sink again, as if she could erase the contents of the notice.