Gemotions

The phone call arrived like a sudden storm. He’d been relaxing on the couch when he heard the polite but firm voice of Mr. Harrison on the other end. The topic? The ancient elm that towered between their properties. He sat upright, his back stiffening.

He could feel his heart hammering against his ribs. Each word Mr. Harrison spoke felt like a condemnation. He listened, his silence a sign of his shame.

He forced himself to reply, his voice barely a whisper. He agreed to meet him face-to-face. He felt a deep sense of dread. The air felt thick, the silence oppressive.