Gemotions

The thought entered his mind as soon as the words left Mrs. Gable’s mouth: This was a test. She wanted to remove the birch, the one that perfectly blocked the view of his house. Convenient, wasn't it?

He forced a smile, but felt a cold dread seep into his bones. His gaze darted around, searching for something, anything, that could give him a clue. He felt a desperate urge to flee, to run and hide.

"I... I'll have to see," he muttered, his throat suddenly dry. He felt a sense of unreality wash over him, as if he were trapped in a dream. He couldn't quite remember how to breathe, and watched as Mrs. Gable, with her polite smile, turned and walked back toward her house. He ran to his backyard to study the tree from a different angle.