Gemotions

"It's just real estate," she told herself, forcing a smile. But the smile felt brittle, as artificial as the perfectly manicured lawns she knew would soon surround the building. She looked at the notice, the glossy font screaming affluence, and felt a burning sensation in her throat.

She went through the motions of making dinner, but her appetite was gone. The simple act of cooking, once a pleasure, now felt like a chore. The apartment felt like a stage set, ready to be dismantled.

She ate a few bites of her meal and pushed her plate away, the food left untouched. She went to bed early and stared at the ceiling for hours, unable to sleep.