Gemotions

Sarah slammed the car door a little harder than necessary. Her stomach was twisting itself into knots. She’d been waiting for an hour already. The tree, now sprawled across Mrs. Henderson’s fence, had completely blocked access to the street.

She chewed on her lip, a habit she knew she needed to break. This was the third time she had called the tree removal company. “They’re on their way, ma’am,” the woman had said each time.

The heat was oppressive, and sweat beaded on her forehead. She felt a growing pressure inside her chest, a tightening that made it difficult to breathe. She pictured the appointment she was missing and clenched her fists. A car honked in the distance. Another neighbor, caught up in the same predicament.