Gemotions

The low hum of the refrigerator seemed to amplify the silence in Leo's apartment. He traced the rim of his empty coffee cup, the ceramic cool against his fingertips. His neighbor, Mr. Henderson, a man whose smile always seemed a little too wide, had knocked earlier. "Too much shade," he’d said, gesturing to the towering pine.

Leo pushed himself up and slowly walked to the window. The tree, a dark, hulking presence, cast long shadows across his lawn, making the whole place feel dim. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he wasn't even aware he made. He thought about the sunshine that the removal of the tree would let in, and couldn't quite see it. The darkness felt comfortable.

He felt a sudden tightening in his chest. He felt as if the world was closing in. He opened a drawer and pulled out the old photo album.