Gemotions

From his porch swing, he watched the scene unfold. The enormous maple, felled by the wind, had crashed onto Mr. Henderson’s garage. He felt a strange sort of empathy. And then he saw her emerge from the house.

He felt a sudden compulsion to assist. He gathered tools and walked over, rehearsing his opening line in his head.

He found himself struggling to form sentences. Her questions were simple, yet he was rendered nearly speechless. The smell of sawdust mingled with the scent of her perfume, a combination that made his head spin.

He imagined her thoughts as she watched him work, as she took in his efforts. He wanted to impress. He wanted to prove his worth. He felt an urge to be better, for her.