Gemotions

The clatter of his neighbor’s lawnmower seemed to amplify the silence in his own backyard. He’d promised Mrs. Rodriguez a patch for her flowers, a splash of color against the monotony of their shared fence line. He hadn't even bothered to clear the area, the weeds and crabgrass mocking his laziness.

Every time she smiled and waved, his stomach lurched. He felt the weight of her kind gesture, the unspoken expectation, the quiet hope in her eyes. The unkempt space felt like a stain, a permanent reminder of his failure to act.

He avoided her, feigning busyness whenever she was outside. The cheerful buzz of her lawnmower was a constant, unwelcome reminder of his own inaction.