Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long, skeletal shadows across the lawn. A small, yapping sound, and then the flash of white fur – Buster, the neighbor's golden retriever, was loose again. Amelia slammed the back door shut, the metal resonating with a hollow boom. Her breath hitched. She scanned the yard, heart hammering against her ribs. Buster bounded towards the swing set, a joyful bark escaping him.

“Stay back!” she yelled, her voice thin and reedy. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth.

The dog cocked its head, its tail wagging furiously. Amelia backed away, each step deliberate, her eyes locked on the playful animal. The memory of the last time, the way it nipped at her ankle, sending her sprawling, a vivid, unwelcome replay in her mind.