Gemotions

“Hey, Sarah?” The voice, loud and clear, pierced the quiet of the evening. It was Mark, her other neighbor, standing at the edge of her property. He was asking if he could create a small bee-friendly garden on the side of her house.

Sarah stepped back from the open doorway. The sun, setting behind him, cast a long, looming shadow. She wanted to retreat, to vanish.

She rubbed her arms, suddenly chilled. She didn’t know how to say no, not without causing offense, but the thought of more people, more interaction, was terrifying. She looked at the ground, then the sky, then at the dirt that Mark was pointing towards. “I… I need to check with the HOA,” she finally whispered, her voice barely there.