Gemotions

The initial thud was what got to Clara. A sickening, resonating *thump* that vibrated through the floorboards. She had been reading, immersed in her book, but that sound stole her focus instantly. She jumped, her grip on the paperback loosening.

She found herself checking the lock on her front door, as though the noise was a threat. She paced the living room, her movements jerky and erratic.

The rhythmic pounding from next door was a constant irritant, a reminder of the fragility of the peace she craved. She felt a growing sense of unease that she couldn't explain.