Gemotions

The email arrived, a casual announcement of the neighbor’s recent trip to the Maldives. David reread the words. He found himself squeezing the phone tighter, as if he could somehow crush the insensitivity within the screen. He was barely making rent this month.

He recalled their conversations, their shared grumbling about property taxes and the increasing cost of utilities. He had always assumed they were on the same level. The realization was physically sickening, leaving him with a dry mouth and a feeling of profound inadequacy.

He stood up and walked to the window, staring out at the manicured lawn of their neighbour’s house, now bathed in the late afternoon sun. The vibrant green was a stark contrast to the monochrome feeling washing over him, a feeling that made his heart feel heavy.