Gemotions

David clicked his tongue. He had just finished washing his car. Now, one of the neighborhood's beloved elms had become a pile of splintered wood. He felt a sudden, inexplicable itch on his right cheek.

He paced back and forth, rubbing his chin. He'd never seen anything like it. His gaze scanned the surroundings, looking for some clue, some hint of the cause. Nothing.

He picked up a stray leaf, turning it over and over in his fingers. The tree’s collapse filled him with a strange disquiet. It felt like a riddle without an answer.