Gemotions

The newspaper lay open on the kitchen table, the bold headline screaming its message. Leo stared at it, the words blurring before his eyes. His apartment, the only stability he’d known since his divorce, was being turned into condos. He ran a hand over his face, feeling the prickle of stubble he hadn't bothered to shave.

He dragged a chair to the window and sat, watching the street below. He had spent years in this apartment, and now, it was being ripped away from him. It felt unjust. He thought of the friendly faces in the building, of Mrs. Rodriguez, who always shared her homemade empanadas. What would become of them?

The sunlight, usually a welcome visitor, seemed harsh and judgmental. He felt a deep ache within, a hollowness that threatened to swallow him whole.