Gemotions

The silence had been deceptive. A deafening roar. Then the house shook. The ancient oak, a monument to his neighbor's utter lack of care, had finally succumbed to gravity. And it had landed right on his newly installed hot tub. Panic flared.

He found Ms. Abernathy, his neighbor, standing in her driveway, gazing at the destruction with a vacant expression. She offered a shrug, her hands fluttering in the air as if she was helpless. "Oh, bother," she said with a careless wave of her hand.

He felt the muscles in his jaw clench. He wanted to shout, but the words wouldn’t come. He just stared at the woman, his breath coming in ragged gasps.