Gemotions

He’d spent the entire afternoon inside, avoiding the sound of the saw. The incessant drone was still echoing in his ears. Michael sat at the kitchen table, staring at the untouched bowl of cereal. He knew he should have spoken up. His neighbor's request seemed reasonable, but he'd felt a prickle of annoyance. He wanted to be a good neighbor, and that sometimes meant silence.

The guilt clawed at him. He knew better. He understood the value of trees.

He closed his eyes, replaying the scene in his head. His stomach churned. He pushed away from the table, a sudden need for fresh air taking over.