Gemotions

"Well, *this* is a mess," Mark said, his voice dripping with condescension as he surveyed the overgrown garden. His sister, Sarah, had been living at home, helping their grandmother. He, on the other hand, had been "busy."

Sarah, who was meticulously examining a rusted garden trowel, didn't respond. He could practically feel her stiffening beside him. He kept talking, but he knew she wasn't listening.

He felt a flush of annoyance crawling up his neck. Did she really think she was superior because she’d stayed here? He kicked at a loose flagstone. The unspoken accusation hung between them, heavy and suffocating: he was the failure. He was the one who abandoned their family.

He turned away from her, his jaw clenched, and headed back towards the house, the silence amplifying every footfall. He started to formulate how he was going to take charge, show her who was really capable.