Gemotions

The smell of freshly cut wood wafted through her open window, a constant reminder. She tried to ignore it, focusing on her bookkeeping, but the scent, sharp and invigorating, was a taunt. Her eyes kept drifting to her own, neglected garden, where weeds choked the roses.

She'd started avoiding Sarah, her neighbor. The cheerful updates on Sarah's kitchen remodel were becoming unbearable. Sarah's excitement was a constant, sharp sting. Today, she found herself slamming the phone down, abruptly ending a conversation about a new countertop. "I'm busy," she’d snapped, her voice tight. The knot in her chest tightened along with her jaw.