Gemotions

The sunlight seemed to intensify as David watched Mr. Chen walk towards him. His mouth went dry. He chewed on the inside of his cheek, a familiar habit. He'd been looking forward to a quiet afternoon of reading on the porch. That was now out of the question.

Mr. Chen’s smile was genuine, but it did little to ease the tension building in David’s chest. The man gestured at his own backyard with a flourish, then to the strip of grass separating their properties.

"Just a small area, for some herbs!" Mr. Chen explained, his voice cheerful. David's mind raced. He pictured the future – conversations, the possibility of awkward small talk, the implicit obligation to… to be neighborly.

He fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, a sudden urge to escape overwhelming him. “Um… yes, that’s… that’s fine,” he blurted out, the words catching in his throat.