Gemotions

The letter arrived in the mailbox, typed and impersonal. The neighbors wanted the ancient elm removed. They cited concerns about the roots and potential damage to their property. He crumpled the paper in his hands, the edges digging into his palms.

He felt a sudden, sharp ache in his temples. He stormed outside, pacing the perimeter of the tree. The sun dappled through the leaves, creating a shifting mosaic on the ground. The scent of the earth and the tree filled his lungs. He felt a deep sense of wrongness.

The elm, the cornerstone of the property, stood as a testament to history. He would not give it up.