Gemotions

The click of the gate latch, the sound that usually signaled the start of his evening stroll, felt different tonight. David stood frozen in his doorway. He knew that Mr. Abernathy, the man with the friendly smile and the meticulously kept garden, had significant wealth. He learned it from the real estate listing that had appeared online.

He'd spent years assuming they were similar, the two retirees enjoying the quiet life. Now, the shared lawnmower anecdote and the neighborhood gossip felt tainted. The world seemed suddenly skewed.

He felt a tightness in his chest, a breathlessness that had nothing to do with physical exertion. He watched Mr. Abernathy, his movements suddenly slower, as he took the path. He felt a sudden, inexplicable need to look away, to break the gaze. He returned to the safe space of his house.