Gemotions

He’d always hated that tree. It was the ultimate statement of everything he was not: tall, strong, a natural beauty. He always thought it would fall, but not like this. Now, the aftermath was a spectacle.

He watched from his living room window as the neighbor’s insurance adjuster arrived. He felt a sharp, almost painful throb in his chest. A new deck, maybe? A swimming pool? He had wanted to build a deck himself.

He went to the fridge and grabbed a beer, cracking it open with a loud pop. He went outside, but didn't go to help. He leaned against his own, rather unremarkable fence, and watched the chaos.

He took a long, slow swallow of the beer.