Gemotions

The noise of the tree falling had startled her, but it was the aftermath that truly stung. The Martins’ enormous sycamore was now blocking their driveway, a spectacle for the entire street to witness. She watched from her porch, arms crossed, as the neighbors gathered to offer assistance.

Her own little maple, by comparison, looked… puny. Her garden, painstakingly crafted over years, suddenly seemed dull. The Martins, with their flair for dramatic gestures and their overflowing social calendar, were undoubtedly going to turn this disaster into a triumph. She muttered under her breath, a bitter taste rising in her throat. She went inside, feeling a sudden need to clean.