Gemotions

The request came from a shy young woman who rarely spoke. "Just…a small corner?" Her voice was barely a whisper. "For a rose bush. Your yard gets the sun." Sarah nodded, but the words felt like lead in her mouth. She could almost feel the weight of her own inability to act, the feeling of being held down, as if by invisible chains.

She found herself outside later, and she watched the girl plant, her motions deliberate and precise. She picked at a loose thread on her jeans, a nervous habit. The sun was hot, and the air was thick, and she felt the same, heavy feeling. Everything felt unyielding. The rose bush seemed to bloom in a different world.