Gemotions

"Hello, Mrs. Davis?" The polite voice on the other end of the phone, a construction worker, sliced through her calm. She’d known this was coming. Her jaw was tight, and her breathing shallow. She squeezed her eyes shut, wishing she could rewind time.

The plans for the fence felt like an intrusion, a violation of the peace she had so carefully cultivated. He'd mentioned that they would be coming on Friday. The idea of the loud machinery, the disruption, made her want to retreat into her bedroom.

Her fingers drummed a restless rhythm against the countertop. She considered cancelling the appointment, feigning illness. But that wouldn't solve the problem, would it? The thought of facing the reality, the permanence of the change, was almost unbearable.