Gemotions

He paced the living room, the polished floorboards cold beneath his bare feet. The proposal hung in the air, a threat disguised as a neighborly request. The words echoed in his mind, "Just a small patch, right next to your fence line…"

He checked the perimeter lights, making sure each one was working. He circled the house, studying the shadows, the angles, the potential points of entry.

The air felt thin, electric. He could taste the metallic tang of anxiety on his tongue. He knew he'd be checking every night, watching everything, paying attention.