Gemotions

The sound, a monstrous splintering, was still ringing in Emily’s ears. She had been taking a nap, and the noise had jolted her awake, making her jolt out of bed. The first thing she saw out of the window was the behemoth maple tree, a notorious hazard, now blocking Mrs. Gable's driveway.

Emily felt a sickening lurch in her stomach. She’d always worried about this, about the tree's precarious state. She gripped the windowsill, her knuckles straining. The thought of the insurance paperwork, the potential for litigation… it was overwhelming.

She felt a dizzy spell wash over her. It was a good thing she ate breakfast, she realized, because now she needed something to sit down. She stumbled to the living room couch, her legs feeling like jelly.