Gemotions

He stared at the neighbor, the words echoing inside his head. A garden? In *his* yard? The idea was utterly baffling. His heart hammered in his chest, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs. He felt a need to retreat, to seek the familiar embrace of the indoors.

His eyes darted around, searching for a logical explanation, finding none. He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it a mess. He felt the blood drain from his face. The neatly stacked firewood by the shed seemed to suddenly become a threatening presence.

“I… I need a moment,” he mumbled, his voice a mere thread. The air seemed to grow thick, making it hard to breathe. He wanted to understand, but his mind refused to cooperate.