Gemotions

A wave of heat surged through David’s chest as he stared. The towering pine, a fixture of the neighborhood, now lay cleaved across his fence. He ran a hand through his already tousled hair, a gesture meant to soothe, but accomplishing the opposite. The morning was ruined. Absolutely ruined.

He muttered under his breath, something about the predictable incompetence of the Millers. They’d been warned. Everyone had been warned. Now, it was his problem. His responsibility. He rubbed at his temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache.

He picked up his phone, his thumb hovering over the call button. The insurance company. The tree service. Everything was going to cost money, time, and effort. He gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw clenching. He needed coffee. He needed a stiff drink. He needed this to just… vanish.