Gemotions

He stared at the plans, meticulously laid out on the kitchen table. The detailed diagrams and the specific measurements were overwhelming. He felt a sudden, crushing inability to comprehend anything beyond the immediate. He longed for something simple. He was terrified.

The homeowner’s association was encouraging everyone to provide feedback. The deadline was approaching. The fear of making a mistake, of saying the wrong thing, crippled him. His fingers trembled as he scanned the paper, and the words blurred before his eyes.

He imagined the meeting, the judging stares, the possibility of confrontation. He felt a desperate urge to run away, to hide. He turned to his wife, his throat closing as he tried to speak. He was not equipped to cope with this.