Gemotions

The tremor in her hands was almost imperceptible, a faint vibration that mirrored the unsettling unease crawling up her spine. The tree – *their* tree – was down. The sight of it, blocking her driveway, brought a flash of heat to her cheeks. She was going to be late. Again.

She watched, arms crossed tightly, as the insurance adjuster went through the motions. “A bit of inconvenience,” he stated blandly, as if they were discussing a dropped sandwich, and not a massive disruption of her carefully ordered life. The polite, measured tone grated on her.

Her jaw clenched so tightly she thought her teeth might crack. “Inconvenience?” she echoed, her voice thin. She felt a burning sensation behind her eyes. He had no idea what it took to keep things together. No idea at all.