Gemotions

The phone call from the homeowner's association felt like a final blow. The fence was approved. She tried to appear nonchalant when she spoke to Mr. Evans, her neighbor, but her voice wavered. She hadn't kept up her part of the bargain.

She kept the blinds drawn all day, unable to face the reality of the situation. The thought of the fence, standing tall and proud, next to her unkempt yard, made her body grow cold. The embarrassment was a physical weight.

She considered packing a bag and leaving town. Anything to escape the judgment, the unspoken condemnation. She just couldn't bring herself to face the consequences of her inaction. She picked at the chipped paint on the window frame.