Gemotions

It was the way Mr. Carter looked at the cherry tree that made her wary. He didn’t smile. He didn’t make small talk. He just stated his desire to have it removed, saying it was… an obstruction.

Her hands were shaking. She felt a chill crawl up her spine. The world around her seemed to sharpen, the colors too vivid, the sounds too loud. She saw a flicker in Mr. Carter’s eyes, a hint of something she couldn't interpret.

"I... I can't say," she said, her voice catching in her throat. She gripped the doorknob, her knuckles white. She had to protect it, whatever it was. She locked the door and watched him from the peephole, her breath coming in ragged gasps.