Gemotions

A tremor ran through David's hands as he answered Mrs. Gable's summons. The woman, usually so jovial, had a tight set to her mouth this morning. The tree, their shared responsibility, was the problem.

“It's just too much,” she announced, her words clipped. The vein in her temple throbbed. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to flee. He took a hasty step back.

He forced a weak chuckle. "Too much?" he stammered. The image of the tree falling, of the vacant space left behind, slammed into his mind's eye.

The ground seemed to shift beneath his feet. He could feel the blood draining from his face, leaving him cold and clammy.