Gemotions

The house felt like a cage, the walls pressing in. The day had passed in a blur of inactivity, the only activity being the constant, nagging thoughts. A gentle tap on the window startled her. It was David, the boy next door, looking shy.

He pointed to the willow, its weeping branches brushing against their shared fence. “My mom said to ask if we could cut it down. It’s making a mess in our yard.”

She nodded, her throat tight. The willow, she realized, was the only thing between her and that world. She said, “Yes, of course.”