Gemotions

The cruel words of the notice hung in the air like a noxious gas. Lisa's hands were clammy as she crumpled the paper. She had to be clever.

She surveyed her apartment, her eyes scanning every corner. She had to identify every vulnerability, every weak point. She looked outside, taking mental notes.

She spent the next hour examining the locks, testing the sturdiness of the doors and windows. She wanted to know the layout of every building on her street.

She felt a sharp, persistent tension in her shoulders, a feeling of being constantly poised, ready to react. The world seemed to shrink around her, becoming a confined space that she had to keep safe.