Gemotions

The silence of the house was punctuated only by the incessant ticking of the grandfather clock. David wandered from room to room, his steps slow and deliberate. The world seemed to be moving at a speed he couldn't match.

A shadow fell across the doorway. Mr. Harrison, his neighbor, stood there, a grim expression on his face. He gestured towards the shared border, the line marked by a towering spruce. "It's too close to my house," he said, his voice flat. "I need to get it taken out."

David stared at the tree, at its strong trunk and green needles. He felt a deep weariness, a profound indifference to the world. He simply nodded. "Fine," he agreed, his voice a whisper, and then turned back to the quiet of his home.