Gemotions

From his recliner, David watched the activity next door. The sounds of sawing and drilling had been a constant companion all afternoon. He had spent the last week reading, re-reading the same pages of a book, but the words were just blurry shapes in his mind.

He remembered a time when he would have offered to help, a shared task leading to easy conversation. Now, his hands remained idle, his gaze fixed on the encroaching structure.

His reflection in the window showed a man whose face seemed to have grown weary with unspoken words. The new barrier was more than just wood; it was a symbol of separation, a reinforcement of the silence.