Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Sarah’s hand. She’d already been on hold for ten minutes with the city, trying to figure out if her neighbor actually needed a permit for the blasted fence. She was drumming her fingers on the counter, a staccato rhythm against the silence.

She glanced out the window and saw him pacing the length of his property, measuring and calculating. She let out a frustrated sigh. This whole situation was draining. Her eyes began to hurt, and she felt the knot in her shoulders tighten.

“Yes, I understand,” she said to the phone, her voice flat. “But… I just need a *straight* answer."