Gemotions

The rhythmic clanging echoed in the hollow space inside him. Every swing of the hammer a physical blow. He stood in his driveway, arms crossed, staring at the newly erected barrier. It was a solid, practical fence, the kind one installs when one has a dog, or a desire for solitude.

He hadn’t realized how much he’d relied on the casual familiarity of their shared garden. The way they’d exchange gardening tips, the easy banter. Now, there was a wall, a physical manifestation of the emotional distance that had grown between them.

He shoved his hands in his pockets, the cold metal of his keys against his skin. He needed to get away from here. From the sound of the fence and its cruel silence.