Gemotions

The aroma of freshly cut grass mingled with the scent of impending doom. John felt a cold sweat break out, despite the pleasant weather. His gaze flickered towards the notice on his fridge, the one detailing the upcoming foreclosure. The idea of losing everything consumed him.

His neighbor, Mr. Davis, gestured to the empty space with a cheerful enthusiasm. John's jaw clenched. He’d promised his daughter they'd build a tree house in that area, and the thought was a fresh, searing agony.

He swallowed hard. "Sure," he managed to say, the word a betrayal. He hoped it was enough, that somehow this gesture of kindness, would magically solve the larger problems he faced.