Gemotions

Sunlight warmed Amelia’s face as she watched Mr. Henderson, her neighbor, pace his yard. A surveyor was marking the boundary line, and Amelia felt a lightness in her chest she hadn't experienced in weeks. She envisioned summer evenings spent, finally, in a private backyard oasis. No more wandering dogs, no more errant baseballs.

She grabbed a watering can and hummed a little tune, the water cascading over her petunias. Each bloom seemed to glow brighter than usual. She imagined herself stringing fairy lights along the new fence, creating a magical haven. A smile stretched across her face.

The surveyor called out a question, and Mr. Henderson nodded, pointing towards the oak tree that shaded Amelia's tomatoes. She walked over to Mr. Henderson and smiled, feeling a skip in her step. “Looks like you’re finally getting that fence, huh?”