Gemotions

The silence of the house amplified every creak and groan. David found himself pacing the living room, his steps deliberate and measured, each footfall a test of the floorboards. Buster's breaches felt invasive, a constant reminder of the lack of control.

He fiddled with the thermostat, adjusting the temperature up and down, as though changing it might somehow change the situation outside. Then he reached for his phone, and looked for the neighbors' number, hesitating before putting his phone back down. He sat on the sofa, picking at the loose threads on the cushion, feeling an unfamiliar disquietude.