Gemotions

The clatter of the construction workers’ tools outside her window made her wince. She had pulled the curtains closed, but she could still hear the incessant banging, the rhythmic hammering that seemed to drill directly into her skull.

She hadn't answered her neighbor's attempts to speak to her. She avoided their gaze. She was afraid to meet them. She felt the sudden urge to run, to disappear.

She retreated to her bedroom, pulling the covers over her head, shutting out the world. The image of the fence, tall and imposing, consumed her thoughts. The world was shrinking, closing in.