Gemotions

He saw the plans, neatly typed, detailing the height, the materials, the elegant design. He swallowed hard as he read them, an involuntary reaction. He’d barely spoken to Mr. Rodriguez, his neighbor, since the incident. Now, this felt like an accusation, laid bare in black and white.

He looked at his own property line, which was overgrown and messy. He hadn’t kept it up, not even a little. The fence was the physical representation of his negligence. He wished he could go back, redo it all.

He considered sending a note, offering to contribute, but he couldn't. His throat constricted. He felt suddenly ill. The image of Mr. Rodriguez, his face etched with something beyond simple annoyance, replayed in his mind. He sat heavily in his chair, and he watched the light change outside.