Gemotions

The email pinged, a shrill intrusion into the quiet of the morning. Sarah sighed, already knowing what it would be. Sure enough, it was from Emily, the neighbor, with a proposal to use the sunny corner of Sarah's yard for a community garden. Sarah ran a hand over her forehead.

The thought of sharing her space with… other people’s gardening habits… filled her with a simmering disquiet. She scrolled through Emily's email, each sentence a fresh wave of agitation. The carefully curated emptiness of her yard was exactly what she needed. The prospect of constant activity, of potential mess, was truly grating.

She clicked reply, a curt "I'll think about it" the only response she could manage. She felt a headache begin to throb behind her eyes. Time for another cup of coffee, she decided, and maybe another one after that.