Gemotions

The sunlight was too bright, assaulting Elara's eyes as she sat on her porch swing, reading a book. The shadow of Mrs. Davies, the new neighbor, fell across her book and she jerked back. She felt an instantaneous chill.

“Oh, hello!” Mrs. Davies chirped, her smile wide and bright. She had a basket overflowing with garden tools. "I was just admiring your lovely garden, and I thought… perhaps, I could use a small section for some of my flowers? Mine haven’t quite flourished this year.” Elara felt a pressure building behind her eyes.

She quickly closed her book, fingers trembling as she marked her place with a leaf. “I… I’ll need to think about it,” she managed to say, her voice cracking slightly.

She watched Mrs. Davies walk away, the sunlight seeming harsh and unforgiving. She closed her eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath, and stayed on the porch until the sun began to dip below the trees.