Gemotions

The fence was almost complete, a tall, imposing barrier that now defined the edge of Maya's property. She avoided walking on that side of the yard, the sight of it a constant reminder.

She had always kept her yard deliberately wild, embracing the untamed beauty of nature. Her neighbors, with their perfectly trimmed lawns and meticulously arranged flowerbeds, seemed to disapprove. She could almost feel their eyes on her, judging the untamed weeds and the haphazard placement of her garden gnomes.

She started spending more time indoors, the sunlight filtering through the curtains doing little to soothe her unease. The fence had become a symbol, a physical manifestation of her feeling like an outsider.