Gemotions

He stood at the edge of the patio, his hands clasped behind his back. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the lawn. "Just a small patch," he’d said, his voice hesitant. "For a few herbs, maybe some tomatoes." I found myself running a hand through my hair, a nervous habit I hadn't realized I possessed. My yard was vast, yes, but it was *my* vastness. A sense of unease settled over me. I looked at the neatly arranged garden gnomes, the perfectly manicured grass. Sharing it felt like…what? Like being asked to donate a piece of my soul? "I need to...consider," I finally managed, my voice sounding thin.