Gemotions

"Just a little corner, near the back," the man said, his eyes practically sparkling. Mark felt a vein throb in his temple. The audacity of it! He pictured the potential mess, the inevitable pests, the constant encroachment.

He’d spent his entire adult life building this sanctuary, a fortress of solitude. This request felt like an invasion, a violation of everything he held dear. He gripped the edge of his porch railing, knuckles white, and his heart pounded in his chest.

"Absolutely not," he managed, the words sharp and clipped. The other man visibly recoiled, and Mark savored the small victory.