Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the overgrown lawn. Liam kicked at a loose stone on the walkway, sending it skittering across the cracked concrete. Mrs. Gable, a woman whose cheerfulness usually grated on him, stood at the fence, a hopeful smile plastered on her face. Her voice, overly bright, sliced through the quiet. “Liam, dear, might I have a word?”

He considered ignoring her, letting her babble at the empty air. But her persistence was worse than her cheer. He turned, hands shoved deep in his pockets, and approached the fence slowly.

“I was wondering,” she began, gesturing towards the patch of unused earth along the property line, “if I could perhaps plant a little garden there. Just a small one, mind you. Vegetables, herbs…”

He stared at the ground, the familiar weight settling in his chest. A garden. More things to look at, to remind him of… things. He mumbled something unintelligible, shifted his weight, and turned back toward the house. "Sure, whatever." He just wanted to be left alone.