Gemotions

The note was attached to the mailbox with a flimsy magnet, its cheerful handwriting a stark contrast to the churning in Martha's stomach. It stated, simply, "We're putting up a fence! Let me know if you have any concerns!" Martha stared at it, squinting in the afternoon sun.

Her fingers traced the edges of the note, the paper feeling oddly rough beneath her fingertips. She re-read it, parsing each word, as if a hidden meaning might be revealed. She hadn't seen the Smiths in weeks.

A flock of pigeons took flight, startling her. Martha jumped, dropping the note in the dusty driveway. She bent to pick it up, her back aching. Why a fence? They'd always gotten along.