Gemotions

The noise had startled me awake. I shot upright in bed, heart racing. My neighbor’s ancient oak had finally given up the fight. It had, predictably, fallen onto the fence separating our properties. The fence I had painstakingly built, last summer.

I stared at the destruction. The fence was completely demolished. He had never liked my work. He was a complainer. He had criticized the color of my shed, the height of the fence. Now, he would be expecting me to help.

I rolled over, pulling the covers over my head. I didn't want to talk to him. I was going to pretend I wasn't home.