Gemotions

The incessant drumming was making Maya's head ache. She slammed the book shut, the sound echoing in the silence of her apartment. She felt a surge of… something akin to bravery. She had endured weeks of noisy late nights, each time pushing it aside, pretending it didn't bother her. No more.

She pulled on her boots and strode out the door, her steps firm. As she approached the source of the noise, she could hear laughter and the thumping of the bass. She paused, taking a deep breath, and rapped on the door.

A young man, surrounded by friends, opened it. He looked annoyed. "What?" he asked.

"The noise," she said, her voice steady. "It's too loud. Could you please turn it down?" She stood her ground, her arms crossed, waiting for his reply. The group, she observed, grew quickly quiet.