Gemotions

The humidity hung heavy in the air. Michael, sweating in his old t-shirt, was helping his mother in the garden. She was down on her knees, her hands in the soil. He found himself mesmerized by the way the sunlight illuminated the tiny hairs on her arms, the curve of her neck as she leaned to pull weeds. He had always been somewhat detached from his parents, but now, he noticed everything.

He knelt beside her, reaching for a trowel. His fingers brushed against hers, a brief, accidental touch, and an electric shock rippled through him. He pulled his hand back quickly, feeling the heat rise in his face. He watched her.