Gemotions

The knot in David's stomach tightened with every footstep he took. The sight of the swimming pool being built in Mr. Abernathy’s backyard was like a physical blow. Abernathy, who complained about property taxes every single time they met, who haggled over the price of a used lawnmower at the local yard sale.

David had been scrimping and saving for years, hoping to remodel his kitchen. He was meticulously planning, looking for deals, watching every penny. And Abernathy… Abernathy was casually adding a pool!

His fists clenched involuntarily. He felt a rush of heat, his face burning. He stopped walking, staring at the construction site. The hammering, the buzz of power tools, were a constant, irritating reminder. He needed to be alone. He needed to get away from the visual evidence of his neighbour’s deceptive wealth.