Gemotions

Mark clenched his jaw, feeling the muscles in his neck tighten. He’d just finished power-washing his deck, a labor of love that had occupied his entire Saturday, and now the incessant hammering was starting. He ran a hand through his hair, leaving greasy marks.

He hated this. The endless encroachment on his personal space. His property was the only thing he felt was his in a world of shared apartments and shared experiences.

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to breathe, but all he could feel was the thrumming in his temples. He imagined the fence, a solid wall between him and the view he'd spent so long enjoying.