Gemotions

"No," Clara whispered, the word barely audible. The letter slipped from her fingers, landing silently on the polished wood floor. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the stillness of the afternoon. She reached for the phone, intending to call her sister, then changed her mind, letting her hand drop back to the table.

She stared at the ornate ceiling molding, a detail she’d always loved. It was an aesthetic she would now have to leave behind. She imagined the new owners, the renovations, the inevitable changes. The thought sent a cold shiver down her spine. The corners of her mouth trembled and she chewed at the inside of her cheek.