Gemotions

The morning sun blazed, turning the dew-kissed grass into a million shimmering diamonds. A grin stretched across Maria's face as she jogged towards the property line, her feet barely touching the ground. Mr. Henderson, his face a roadmap of wrinkles, was already there, gesturing towards the towering oak. "It's blocking my sunlight, you see," he wheezed, his voice thin. Maria, instead of the usual frustration, felt a surge of… something. A potent, energetic pulse coursed through her. "I've been thinking about getting rid of it myself," she replied, her voice filled with an uncharacteristic snap. "The branches are getting a bit unruly."

Maria spent the next hour gathering gardening gloves and a small hand saw, her movements quick and decisive. The air around the tree smelled of damp earth and something wild, something that matched the feeling blossoming within her. She approached the tree, feeling the rough bark beneath her fingertips, and felt her pulse pick up as if ready for a race. She looked back at Mr. Henderson who was now fiddling with his hat. He had no idea what was coming.