Gemotions

The letter lay open on the dashboard, the official notification of the demolition. Emily hadn't slept the night before. She touched her throat. It was tight, making it difficult to breathe. She wished she had never opened it.

The familiar street looked alien, transformed by the impending change. She could feel the stares of the neighbors. She had avoided them for weeks. Now, here she was. She couldn't face them.

She pulled the hood of her jacket over her head, shielding herself from the world. A wave of dizziness washed over her. She gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white. The air felt thick, charged with an invisible tension. She wished she could just disappear.