Gemotions

The realtor, a cheerful woman with a too-bright smile, chirped, “Oh yes, that tree was a bit of a nuisance. Blocked the sunlight, you know?” Liam didn't speak. He just stared at the vacant spot, the exposed soil reflecting the grey sky. Nuisance? It had been a childhood friend, a silent witness to countless scraped knees and whispered secrets. He felt a rising heat in his cheeks, a tightness in his chest. He turned away, abruptly ending the tour, the realtor's pleasantries now a grating noise.