Gemotions

The silence of the suburban street was broken only by the chirping of unseen birds. David leaned against his car, arms crossed. Where the towering silver birch had stood, now there was only a patch of dirt and the faint scent of freshly cut wood.

He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that seemed to suggest a release. He had always felt a sense of confinement under its canopy. Now, the sky was visible, vast and open. He clicked his tongue, a soft, approving sound.

"Well, that's that," he said to himself, a low chuckle escaping his lips. He started the car, already imagining the sunlight that would soon bathe his living room.