Gemotions

He found himself avoiding the street entirely. He started taking the long way around, adding an extra ten minutes to his commute just to bypass the construction site. He couldn't stand the sight of it: the haphazard scaffolding, the overturned wheelbarrows, the general state of disarray.

He knew, of course, that the neighbors, the Millers, were excited about their new addition. They’d talked about it incessantly. He’d smiled and nodded at the time, but now he just felt a heavy weight in his chest whenever he thought about it.

One day, he saw Mrs. Miller in the grocery store. “How's the project coming along?” he asked, his voice flat. She launched into a detailed description, her eyes sparkling. He listened for a moment, then mumbled an excuse and quickly moved away.