Gemotions

The email arrived late, a stark black and white request. My neighbor, Ms. Chen, wanted the large pine between our houses removed. She cited the constant needle drop and the potential risk of falling branches. I stared at the screen, a knot forming in my stomach.

I remembered when we planted it, a sapling, full of hope.

I called her. Her voice was strained. She explained how her daughter has allergies, and how the tree was affecting her life. I closed my eyes.

"Let me see if I can find someone to come and trim it, at least," I offered, feeling the weight of her predicament. Maybe a compromise could be reached.