Gemotions

The hammering was a relentless migraine in her ears. Emily buried her face in her hands, trying to block out the noise. They were changing everything. The neighborhood felt different already. She had always loved the charm of the little houses, their shared character.

Her stomach churned. The memory of the day the new owners had introduced themselves, beaming and energetic, came to mind. She’d smiled, but the smile had felt brittle, unnatural. She hadn't said much. Now, she avoided them. The whole situation made her skin crawl.