Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the freshly painted fence were a slap in the face. Emily watched from her window, a tight knot forming in her stomach. It was almost finished.

Her neighbour, Mr. Thompson, had always seemed so… bright. Too bright. Now, he was grinning, overseeing the final touches. She had received a curt note, an official notice, about the fence. She had barely managed to acknowledge it.

She felt a hollowness, a gaping void within her. It was a physical thing, a constant ache. She didn't want any of this. She didn’t want to see the fence, she didn't want to see him.

She moved away from the window, pulling the curtains. The room, already dim, felt stifling.