Gemotions

The surveyor's tape, stretched across the front lawn, felt like a noose around Elena's neck. She leaned against her car, arms crossed, watching the sun glint off the polished brass. Years of effort, of love, reduced to property lines and blueprints. A tremor ran through her, shaking her to her core.

She remembers her father teaching her to ride her bicycle in the driveway. Now, the driveway was cracked and weeds were growing through the cracks, as everything had done over the years. She’d tried to hold on, but it was useless.

She saw the foreman walking toward her. He was going to try and say something, she knew it. She turned away, not wanting to hear any platitudes, any reassurances. She'd heard them all before.