Gemotions

The world felt heavy, pressing on Elias's chest. He felt leaden, slow. The cheerful chatter of the construction workers next door grated on him. It was as if their laughter was meant to mock his inertia.

He watched them from his bedroom window, their movements sharp and efficient. He wanted to scream. He wanted to shout at them to be quiet, to leave him alone. Instead, he just pulled the curtains tighter.

The fence would be up soon, a wooden cage between his garden and theirs. It was just another thing to be done, another task he couldn't bring himself to do.