Gemotions

The letter’s bold headline seemed to glare at Eleanor. She sat at her kitchen table, frozen, a half-eaten sandwich lying forgotten on her plate. Her appetite vanished, replaced by a growing feeling of constriction. The familiar hum of the refrigerator sounded like a threatening growl.

She tried to distract herself by watching television, but the images flickered and blurred before her eyes. The thought of losing her sanctuary, the place she'd built for herself, was a heavy weight. She rose and walked aimlessly around the apartment, tracing the outline of her belongings with her fingertips, as if memorizing them for a final goodbye.