Gemotions

She found the email waiting, the subject line terse: "Tree Issue." Her neighbor, David, wanted to discuss the ancient maple that straddled their property. She read the email a second time, a strange tightness forming in her chest. She had a magnificent garden, a haven of tranquility, whereas David's yard was a cluttered mess, filled with old cars and neglected tools.

She met him at the property line, the sun hot on her face. His casual, comfortable attire was irritating. He gestured towards the tree, the shadow it cast across his lawn. He seemed so nonchalant, so…relaxed. She clenched her jaw.

“It’s a hazard, you know,” he mumbled, kicking at a loose stone. “Roots are cracking the patio.” He didn't even care about the birds nesting in its branches. She could barely manage a nod, her gaze fixed on the perfectly symmetrical line of his freshly-cut lawn. That old tree? It served him right.