Gemotions

“What do you mean, *eviction*?” The words, spoken aloud, felt brittle, inadequate. Sarah stared at the property manager, her voice trembling. The woman’s bland expression offered no comfort. Her palms were slick, and she felt a prickle of sweat on her forehead. The room seemed to shrink, the air thick and hard to breathe.

As she stepped back into the lobby, she felt a wash of heat, like her face was about to explode. Her gaze jumped to the empty sidewalk outside the building. Her head was filled with a thousand thoughts, all jostling for space, each one more frightening than the last. She quickened her pace, desperate to escape.