Gemotions

The dog's barking was relentless. It had been going on for hours. It was a high-pitched, insistent yelp that grated on Elara’s nerves. She considered the owner might be gone.

She went to her window and stared at the house next door. She had always found the dog annoying, but today, the barking was different. It felt aggressive, targeted. It was a threat.

She rubbed her temples, feeling a headache begin to form. She felt trapped, the sound a constant assault. She slammed the window shut, but the barking still filtered through, a taunt she couldn’t escape.