Gemotions

"Magnificent," Eleanor managed through a tight smile as she greeted Harold at his front door. Inside, her teeth ground together. The fence was a stark contrast to her own, overgrown hedge. Hers was a messy haven, a world of birds, and hers looked positively unkempt in comparison.

She thought of the years she had spent carefully tending her plants, trying to create her own private paradise. Now, next to the sleek, new barrier, her efforts felt like a failure.

Later, she found herself snapping at her husband over a misplaced rake. She didn’t know why, but all the sudden, everything irritated her.