Gemotions

"Good morning, Martha!" Barry called, waving from his side of the property line. He held up a measuring tape. The fence installers were due any minute.

Martha, her hands slightly shaking, forced a smile. The previous week had been a flurry of back-and-forth emails. Now, the final hurdle. The sound of a truck pulling in caused a flutter in her stomach, but she took a deep breath. She glanced at the sun, already high, and returned Barry’s wave.

The construction crew, a motley bunch, hopped out, their equipment clanging. Martha found herself picking at the loose skin around her fingernails. She repeated to herself: "It'll be alright, it'll be alright." She reached for her water bottle, taking a slow, long drink.