Gemotions

"Can you believe this racket?" David muttered, his voice barely a whisper. He stared out the window at the chaos unfolding next door, the workers’ shouts and the incessant power tools a relentless assault on his ears. He sank back into the sofa, the plush cushions offering no comfort.

He reached for the remote, but even the television's volume couldn't drown out the din. He felt a deep, pervasive sense of inadequacy wash over him, a feeling he couldn't quite name. He closed his eyes, willing the noise to stop, to give him a moment's reprieve.