Gemotions

The aroma of her neighbor’s barbecue, usually a welcome scent, felt suffocating. It wafted into her yard, mingling with the metallic tang of the fence posts that had already been delivered. She felt her stomach churn.

She retreated inside, shutting the window, though the sound of laughter still carried over the property line. She paced her living room, her steps erratic and unsure.

She picked up the phone, intending to call someone, but found herself staring at the numbers, frozen. She felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of loneliness, a hollowness that threatened to swallow her whole.