Gemotions

“Just a little something from the farmers market,” the neighbor said, casually handing him a basket overflowing with exotic fruits. It was a generous gesture, he had to admit. But it felt wrong. He'd been struggling to afford groceries this month, eating the same beans and rice every day. He wanted to refuse, but he didn't want to seem ungrateful.

He managed a weak smile, thanking him. He immediately felt like a charity case. He wished he could just vanish.

He retreated inside, and dumped the contents of the basket onto his kitchen counter. It felt like a constant reminder of how little he had.