Gemotions

A wave of heat flushed across Daniel's face as he stared out his own window. The oak lay across the fence, a gigantic green monster, now a threat rather than a source of beauty. He felt a profound unease settle in his stomach. He'd been cutting his grass the day before, chatting with Mr. Henderson, and commenting on the lovely tree.

He picked at the chipped paint of the windowsill, avoiding eye contact with his wife as she moved around the kitchen.

He wanted to help clear up the mess, but he wasn’t sure how to approach Mr. Henderson. He had always been so proud of his immaculate garden.

The silence in his chest echoed the quiet of the morning, broken only by the drip of rain.