Gemotions

"You alright, dear?" my husband asked, noticing my silence at dinner. I jumped, startled, the fork clattering against the plate. The noise, the constant noise, had become a dull ache in my head.

The project next door had completely upended my world. The perfectly planned extension, the elaborate landscaping. I felt exposed, as though my flaws were on public display.

I mumbled a noncommittal response, picking at my food. The thought of sharing my feelings, of voicing my anxieties, was impossible. I felt the tears prick at my eyes. I excused myself from the table, claiming a headache, and went to hide in the bedroom.