Gemotions

He avoided eye contact with the woman standing on his porch. Her request, to grow a few tomatoes in the corner of his yard, struck him as an intrusion. He was fine on his own, thank you very much. He was used to the silence.

His hands clenched into fists at his sides. The polite smile on his face felt like a mask, ready to crack at any moment. He longed to be left alone, to retreat further into the confines of his own existence.

"I'll need to discuss it with my wife," he said, the words stiff and formal. He couldn't risk making a decision, not now. He shut the door before she could reply, the click a small victory.