Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, but it did nothing to soothe David. He felt a throbbing sensation behind his eyes. He knew Mrs. Gable had a new oven, a state-of-the-art model. He’d seen the delivery truck. He’d been struggling to pay his electricity bill.

David had been working on a new business idea for months, but the start-up costs felt impossible. The constant reminders of his neighbor's wealth, the subtle flaunting of it, had become unbearable.

He grabbed the remote, flipping through channels without seeing anything. The television screen reflected his own hollow expression. He switched the TV off.