Gemotions

"Perfect!" Mrs. Rodriguez exclaimed at the sight of the fence design. For David, however, the word felt like a death knell. He felt a prickly heat rise up his neck.

He forced a smile, but his jaw felt locked. This meant the end of impromptu chats with the Millers, the sharing of tomatoes over the garden fence.

He imagined the solid wood, shutting them off, creating a boundary he hadn't asked for. He shifted his weight, his fingers drumming a frantic rhythm against his thigh. He felt like he had to get away, so he excused himself from the conversation and retreated to his yard.