Gemotions

"Condo... condos," Clara whispered, the word tasting bitter in her mouth. She felt a knot forming in her stomach, twisting tighter with each passing moment. The apartment felt different, the familiar spaces now strange and unfamiliar. The walls seemed to be closing in, the air thick and heavy.

She moved from room to room, touching the surfaces of things, as if to reassure herself that they were still there. Each touch was accompanied by a fresh wave of despair. She thought about the money, the moving, the uncertainty of it all.

She sat on the floor, her back against the wall, and hugged her knees to her chest. She wished she could disappear, to wake up and discover that the letter was just a bad dream. She didn't want to think about anything else.