Gemotions

The request came disguised as a casual conversation. “Just a little trim, it’ll let in some light," said the woman next door, as if he couldn’t see the deliberate way her gaze kept drifting towards his prized wisteria.

His hands, usually steady, suddenly felt clumsy as he fiddled with a stray weed in the gravel path. He could almost feel the weight of her gaze on his back. He forced a smile.

“I’ll think about it,” he said, the words tasting like ash in his mouth. He watched her walk away, and felt his shoulders slump.