Gemotions

She stared at the email, the words blurring on the screen. “Conversion to Condominiums.” Her jaw clenched. The thought of losing her rent-controlled apartment, her sanctuary, sent a sharp wave of nausea through her.

The coffee she’d made earlier sat cold in its mug, untouched on the counter. She’d been planning to meet Sarah for brunch, but the thought of forced cheer and the constant, bright sunlight felt completely unbearable. She texted Sarah, cancelling with a curt, “Something came up.”

She walked to the window, watching the rain streak down the glass, blurring the already hazy cityscape. She could feel a headache beginning to bloom behind her eyes, the familiar precursor to a full-blown migraine. She ran a hand through her hair, a useless gesture of frustration.