Gemotions

From her vantage point in the kitchen, Martha could see the workers tearing away at the siding of the house next door. She gripped the edge of the countertop. Her stomach churned. The noise was unbearable.

She found herself making small, involuntary noises – little whimpers that she quickly tried to swallow. The air around her felt prickly, as if charged with static electricity. She’d been enjoying the quiet of her home, until now. The invasion was profound.

She clenched and unclenched her fists, trying to find some release. Each strike of the hammer felt like a physical blow. She longed for the silence, the peace. She wanted to be left alone.