Gemotions

“Please, Liam, can I?” Mrs. Rodriguez’s voice was warm, pleading, as she gestured toward the far corner of his yard. He knew what she was asking.

Liam’s shoulders slumped. He felt a familiar knot forming in his stomach, a tight, anxious ball that seemed to grow with each passing second. He tried to meet her gaze, but his eyes darted away, fixated on a loose brick in the pathway.

The image of her growing tomatoes on his property swirled in his mind. He couldn't shake the sensation of being… smaller. He felt a pressure, pushing him down.

“Yes, of course, Mrs. Rodriguez,” he finally managed, the words a weary sigh. A wave of exhaustion swept over him.