Gemotions

The fence crew arrived, a flurry of activity, and Maya felt a sudden, inexplicable tightness in her chest. She stood at her window, arms crossed tightly. The Smiths were putting up a fence; a sleek, modern design that would set them apart. She had wanted a similar fence for years, but had always put it off.

Her own garden, overgrown and a little wild, suddenly felt embarrassing. She imagined the perfectly manicured lawn, the privacy it would offer. She, on the other hand, had a wobbly old bird bath.

That evening, she found herself picking at her dinner, appetite gone. Her eyes flicked toward the construction site. She should have done it first.