Gemotions

The constant ache in her shoulders was a familiar companion. Each day was a struggle, a battle against an invisible enemy. The cheerful knock at her door offered another challenge: her neighbor, Emily, with a proposal to use a portion of her yard for a garden.

The sunlight was too bright, the sounds of birdsong too jarring. The very thought of nurturing anything – let alone plants – felt like an overwhelming task.

She stared at the woman, her eyes unable to focus. "Not now," she mumbled, the words a mere whisper lost in the breeze. She turned away, feeling the familiar weight of the day settle over her once more.