Gemotions

The sunlight felt too bright, the birdsong too cheerful. Sarah tugged at the hem of her shirt, a nervous habit she'd developed lately. The dog, that scruffy terrier mix, was currently dismantling her meticulously arranged garden gnomes. She bit her lip, the taste of blood metallic.

This was the third time this week. She felt a knot in her stomach tighten. The dog’s owner was a sweet, older woman, but the situation was still getting to her. Everything was. Sarah had promised herself she would not lose it.

She walked towards the fence, her pace slow. This was the last straw. The small figurines lay scattered about. It was the same feeling, again. She could feel her chest grow tight.