Gemotions

The weight of the notice made the air feel thick. Sarah felt like the air was being sucked from her lungs. She thought of Mr. Kim, who ran the small corner store, a place where people gathered. She knew that he and his wife were close to retirement. The notice had the potential to ruin their lives.

She walked to the store, and she noticed Mr. Kim behind the counter, staring at the sign. She grabbed a small bag of oranges. "Hey," she said, her voice gentle. "How are you?" She waited to hear his answer, not sure if she was ready for it.