Gemotions

The neighbor had always been amiable, a friendly wave across the shared lawn. Now, though, the prospect of the fence made his smile seem… calculated. Michael found himself avoiding eye contact.

He was suddenly obsessed with security. He installed new locks, a security camera. He started sleeping with a baseball bat beside his bed, a heavy presence. Every night was a struggle, his mind racing.

He was convinced that something terrible was coming. The fence, he knew, was just the beginning. The world had shifted, and he was no longer safe.