Gemotions

The surveyor's stakes, bright orange against the green lawn, felt like a deliberate intrusion. Amelia found herself standing at the edge of her property, her arms crossed, watching the workers with a mounting sense of… what? Disquiet? Confusion?

She bit her lip, a nervous habit she hadn't indulged in years. The air felt thick, heavy. She remembered the shared barbecues, the casual conversations across the grass. That would be over.

She noticed a bead of sweat trickle down her temple. She hadn't felt this… off-balance… in ages.