Gemotions

The phone vibrated in his hand, a jumpy shock. It was a text message from his wife: “Are you home? The noises are getting worse.” He stared at the message, his throat tightening.

He’d been trying to ignore it, to focus on his work. But the hammering was relentless, a physical assault on his senses. He glanced at the clock: 3:00 PM. Another hour before he could leave.

He felt pinned down, trapped. He pictured her alone in the house, vulnerable. He pictured the neighbor, the man with the unsettling smile. He abruptly stood up from his desk and walked out, his steps hasty, his jaw clenched.