Gemotions

The children's joyful shrieks were deafening. Liam was accustomed to the noise, but he knew the elderly couple next door had likely already reached their limit.

He listened to the laughter, followed by the inevitable crying. He pictured the silence of their own apartment, and the contrast made him uncomfortable. The elderly couple enjoyed a tranquil existence, and this was an invasion of their peace.

He considered the old couple's routines – the early morning tea on the porch, the afternoon walks, the hushed conversations. The noise was more of an intrusion than an inconvenience. He'd been asked to keep the noise levels down. He knew he had to act.