Gemotions

Dust motes danced in the afternoon sun filtering through Daniel’s window, a lazy ballet he envied. He slumped at his desk, staring at the tax forms spread before him. The numbers swam, a blurry mess reflecting the exhaustion that had settled deep in his bones. His neighbor, Mrs. Gable, always tended her prize-winning rose bushes with meticulous care. He’d often see her, her face crinkled in a smile, humming as she worked.

Today, however, the humming had been replaced by the sound of a gardener’s power tools. Peeking over the fence, Daniel watched as the man, dressed in a crisp uniform, manicured the already perfect lawn. Beyond, he saw a newly installed swimming pool, sparkling turquoise in the sunlight. His gaze drifted to his own overgrown weeds, the chipped paint on his fence.

A knot tightened in Daniel’s stomach. He rubbed his eyes, feeling a pressure behind them. He wanted to scream. He wanted to lie down and sleep for a week. He retreated, leaving the paperwork untouched, the weight of the world pressing down.