Gemotions

The rustle of the leaves felt suddenly menacing, not comforting. The chirping of the birds sounded shrill, mocking. The offer from the new neighbor, Mr. Harrison, hung in the air: to share the cost of removing the enormous old pine that straddled their property line.

She found herself unable to meet his gaze. She busied herself with rearranging the pebbles in her garden, the task mindless and repetitive. The thought of the open space, the exposure, made her shudder. Her hands were shaking slightly. Each suggestion by Mr. Harrison, each reason why the tree should come down, seemed to sharpen the anxiety. The world narrowed, focusing on her hands and the tiny stones.