Gemotions

The email ping had startled Mark awake. He squinted at the screen, the harsh light already assaulting his senses. He’d barely managed to drag himself out of bed this morning, the effort leaving him feeling hollowed out. Now, here was a request from next door.

He groaned inwardly when he saw the subject line: “Garden Space.” It was Mr. Henderson, a cheerful chap known for his boundless energy.

Mark felt the familiar weight settle on his shoulders. He scrolled through the email. Mr. Henderson was polite, offering to take care of the upkeep. Mark rubbed his gritty eyes. The thought of even a small conversation about it felt taxing.

The idea of his lawn being touched at all was irritating. Mark eventually typed a short reply. “Sure. See what you can manage.” He then slammed the laptop shut.