Gemotions

The bright colors of the newly constructed children's playhouse mocked him. He’d readily agreed to let the Millers build it on his property. They had a young family, and he wanted to be neighborly. Now, he was beginning to feel a deep, quiet resentment.

He sat in his favorite armchair, the silence of the house weighing on him. He felt as though a vital part of him had been chipped away. He had given up his privacy.

His gaze drifted to the window, the cheerful structure a garish presence in his once serene backyard. He felt the sting of a truth he had tried to avoid: the cost of being agreeable. He shifted in his seat, a restless unease settling over him.