Gemotions

The email sat in the inbox, unopened. Another one from the homeowner's association. She couldn't bring herself to read it. She knew what it would say. Complaints. About the noise. About the dog. About the constant escapes.

She could hear the dog barking, a loud insistent sound that always set her teeth on edge. This time, he’d managed to get into the chicken coop. The frantic squawking was a symphony of chaos.

She took a slow, deliberate breath, trying to tamp down the rising panic. She slowly walked outside, she found the dog, covered in feathers, staring up at her with big, innocent eyes. The carnage of the coop was a brutal reminder of the consequences of her lack of control.