Gemotions

The invitation sat on the kitchen counter, pristine and white, mocking her. A barbecue. A housewarming, really. The Millers next door. They were finally putting in the pool. She’d always wanted a pool. She picked up the card, her fingers tracing the embossed lettering, and then let it drop. The clatter of the ceramic tile underneath echoed strangely in the otherwise silent house.

He’d said he was "too busy." Too busy for her, for them. Now, there was time for a pool party, for neighbors who probably didn't even know her name. A sharp pain bloomed in her chest, constricting her breath. She went to the window and stared at the empty space between their houses.

The sun beat down, making the grass look parched. Soon, there’d be a fence. A beautiful, wooden fence, isolating her even more. She felt a familiar weight settle on her shoulders, making her want to just sink and disappear.