Gemotions

The typed words blurred before Sarah’s eyes. She blinked, trying to clear her vision, but the letters remained stubbornly out of focus. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm against the sudden silence of the apartment. She felt herself flush.

She reread the notice, each sentence a blow. The landlord’s cold, legal language cut deep. She knew she was behind on rent, but the swiftness of the eviction shocked her. She felt betrayed, abandoned.

She walked to the window, and stared out. The street below was bustling with activity, but she felt entirely separate from it. The world seemed to move on, unaware of her impending upheaval. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the chill that had settled deep within her bones.