Gemotions

A cold sweat slicked down Leo’s back. He gripped the edge of the overflowing trash bin, the stench of old garbage suddenly overwhelming. He looked across the meticulously kept hedge, to Mrs. Gable's house, and felt a wave of nausea. He'd always pitied her, the kindly old widow on a fixed income, perpetually watering her petunias.

He’d just seen her, through the gap in the hedge, stepping out of a vintage Ferrari. He didn’t even know those cars *existed* in real life. His hands started to shake, a tremor that ran all the way through his limbs.

She'd been so generous with her advice on his failing herb garden. He had been a fool. The kindness, the shared garden supplies, the gentle smiles… all a charade. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut.