Gemotions

The hammering was relentless. Inside his own house, David gritted his teeth, trying to concentrate on his work. The new neighbors, the Millers, were ripping out their entire back deck. He knew they’d just moved in, and he remembered the excited chatter he'd overheard at the welcoming barbecue.

Suddenly, the hammering stopped. He peeked through the blinds and saw Mr. Miller slumped on a pile of lumber, head in his hands.

David put down his pen, feeling a strange tightening in his chest. He grabbed a tray of homemade cookies he’d baked last week and walked over. "Hey," he said, offering the tray, "Rough going? Thought you might need a sugar boost."

Mr. Miller looked up, surprised, then smiled weakly. “Thanks, man. Appreciate that.”