Gemotions

He felt his cheeks go warm, a slow burn spreading across his face. Mr. Evans, his new neighbor, was proposing an alteration to the property line. It was more than a mere request; it was an expectation. He was being asked to give up a piece of his land.

The way Mr. Evans smiled, as if this was the most natural thing in the world, was a little sickening. As if his meticulously planned patio, his prized barbecue, wasn't important.

He shifted his weight, his leg suddenly aching. He forced a smile. "Well, I need to… think about it," he said, the words tasting like ash in his mouth.