Gemotions

The sound of the crash woke me. Even through the closed window, the noise had been enormous. When I peered outside, I saw the massive pine tree that bordered the Peterson's property had split and half of it landed on their fence.

I threw on clothes and raced outside, heart pounding. I saw Ms. Peterson, standing near the wreckage, her hands covering her mouth. I could sense her overwhelm.

"Are you okay, Marie?" I called out, hurrying towards her. She shook her head, unable to speak. The sheer scale of the mess seemed to have silenced her.

I spent the whole morning with her, working on the fence, offering to help with cleanup, and calling around for a professional arborist to assess the damage.