Gemotions

She pressed her face against the glass of her living room window. The neighbor's elm tree, a monstrous thing, was tilting precariously. Her pulse hammered against her ribs. She couldn't shake the feeling that it was… deliberate.

She remembered the argument they'd had last month about the property line. A petty squabble, she'd thought at the time. Now, the memory fueled the fire in her gut. She pictured him, smirking, watching from his window.

Every shadow seemed to lengthen, taking on sinister shapes. She hurried to lock all the windows, the familiar routine offering a small, temporary respite. She jumped at a sudden crash, a loud thud that echoed through the otherwise quiet street.

Her hands trembled as she cautiously peered through the blinds, her breath caught in her throat. The tree was down, its massive bulk sprawled across his property. Relief washed over her, quickly followed by a strange, unsettling feeling.