Gemotions

"We'd love to plant some herbs," the woman chirped, her children peeking from behind her. Her eyes lit up as she continued, "Fresh basil for everyone!" The offer hung in the air, weighted with an unspoken expectation.

A bitter taste filled Amelia's mouth. The carefully tended lawn, the quiet, the isolation… these were things she cherished.

Amelia forced a smile, a thing that felt brittle. "I'll have to think about it," she finally replied, her voice flat. She could feel the muscles in her jaw clenching. She watched them walk away, and felt a strange, cold emptiness in the pit of her stomach.