Gemotions

The late afternoon sun slanted through the grimy window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The notice lay face up on the cluttered desk, a pale square of judgment. The cheerful music from the neighbor's apartment seemed especially grating.

She felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She knew this was coming. Still, the reality of it felt like a punch. She slumped into the chair, the creaky springs protesting her weight. She had no one to turn to.

Her eyes welled, and she blinked rapidly, trying to keep the tears at bay. She thought of her prized collection of books, of the small, carefully curated world she had built within these walls.