Gemotions

"Just a small herb garden," Mr. Chen had said, his voice soft, his eyes bright. He wanted to use the thin strip of land separating their properties. The words were simple, the request innocent, but something inside Emily tightened. She forced a smile. "Sure," she'd replied, the word feeling foreign on her tongue.

Inside her house, she paced, unable to settle. She picked up a book, dropped it. She poured a glass of water, didn't drink it. The familiar comfort of her home suddenly felt…wrong.

She stared out the window at the garden, the green that usually soothed her now felt…intense, alive. She began to clean, scrubbing the kitchen counters with a fervor that bordered on mania.