Gemotions

The man's shadow fell across the small, barren patch of grass in front of his apartment building. He had tried to get the landlord to do something with the grass, but they always told him there was no money. He looked over to the lush green lawn of the house across the street.

The golden retriever, Sunny, bounded through the grass, barking excitedly at the leaves blowing in the wind. The man looked up and saw the young woman who lived there, laughing as she threw a ball for the dog. He looked down at his hands, calloused and rough from working long hours.

He felt a familiar pressure in his chest, a sense of being constantly on the outside. He wanted that kind of ease, that kind of happiness, but he knew he couldn’t have it.