Gemotions

The email arrived, neatly formatted, impersonal. John stared at the words, the proposal to remove the towering pine. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him. The pine had been a constant, a landmark, a familiar friend. Now, the potential for its absence loomed large.

He reread the email multiple times, each read deepening the feeling of vulnerability. His fingers tightened around his phone, his knuckles white. The thought of the gap, the sudden loss of that visual anchor, felt like a gaping wound. He typed a curt reply, trying to project a sense of calm he didn't feel.