Gemotions

The flickering porch light cast long, dancing shadows across the neatly manicured lawn. Sarah watched, unseen from her bedroom window, as Mr. Henderson unloaded cases of wine from a black car that screamed affluence. Her stomach clenched. It was a brand she’d only seen in the glossy pages of magazines she couldn’t afford.

His house, always meticulously kept, suddenly seemed to loom. She remembered the quiet, the man who always waved cheerfully, the friendly smile. Now, she felt a chill creep down her spine. The knowledge, a heavy weight, pressed against her chest.

She quickly shut the blinds. The mundane view of her own, far less impressive, garden offered no comfort. A low whimper escaped her lips. She pulled the covers over her head, wishing the unsettling feeling would just disappear.