Gemotions

The ice in her glass clinked a little too loudly as she set it down on the table. "Of course," she said to the empty room. Her neighbor's ancient beech tree had finally given in to the elements, taking out half of the shared fence and, apparently, a good portion of her rose bushes with it.

She didn't even bother to grab her phone. She knew what the neighbor's reaction would be: denial, followed by excuses, followed by weeks of inaction. A deep weariness settled over her.

She let out a long breath, a slow, deliberate exhale. She already felt the throbbing headache coming on.