Gemotions

The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the overgrown garden. My brother, Ben, was inspecting the rose bushes, his hands already stained with dirt. I stood awkwardly on the cracked paving stones, feeling the familiar burn of unease rise within me. My simple sundress, a choice I now regretted, felt ridiculously inadequate.

Ben called out, pointing towards a particularly overgrown section. "Think we can salvage this?"

I cleared my throat, not trusting my voice. My mind raced with the various things I was incapable of, from pruning roses to fixing a leaky faucet.

"I… I don't know," I said, my voice barely audible above the chirping of crickets. I wanted to just turn and run. I felt my face flush.