Gemotions

He felt a tightness in his chest as he watched the surveyor measure. The constant whir of the measuring tape grated on Leo's sensibilities. Every tick and whirr seemed designed to make him feel this way. He couldn’t seem to stand still, pacing a narrow path from his front door to the edge of his property.

His neighbor, Brenda, had been jovial during their earlier conversation about the fence. *“Finally, some privacy!”* she had said. Leo had managed a weak smile, but the thought of it going up made his stomach churn.

He felt the need to get something done, and he started to pull weeds out of his garden, ripping at them savagely as if it would help. He couldn’t stop.