Gemotions

The aroma of freshly cut wood filled the air, a scent that normally would have pleased Liam. Not today. Today, it was a fragrant reminder of what was happening: the slow, deliberate division of his world.

He stood in his yard, watching the fence take shape. His neighbour, Mrs. Ramirez, was nowhere to be seen. He ran a hand through his hair, the action slow, pensive.

It felt like she'd decided he was no longer good enough. That he wasn’t someone she wanted to associate with. The feeling was like a physical weight, pressing down on him, making it hard to breathe. The fence was the message. Loud and clear.