Gemotions

The stairs felt like a mountain. Sarah paused on the landing, chest heaving, the package from the previous tenant heavy in her arms. She could have left it there, but the thought of the neighbor's incessant knocking was worse.

A dull ache throbbed behind her eyes. Inside the box, a collection of old photographs spilled out. Sarah felt a peculiar detachment as she looked at them.

The photographs showed people smiling. Laughter seemed like a distant echo. She closed the box and slumped against the wall, a wave of weariness pulling at her limbs. "Not now," she whispered to the empty hallway.