Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Clara's hand as she listened to Mr. Davies’ proposition. He'd called early, just as she was finally starting to feel… centered. Now, his suggestion to remove the pine tree, a towering presence that had provided her solace for years, stirred a familiar churning in her gut. She chewed on her lip, a habit she'd thought she'd broken.

Outside, the wind rustled the needles, a gentle sigh she’d always found calming. Now, the sound grated on her nerves. “The roots… the damage…” Mr. Davies was listing reasons, each one a tiny pinprick against her already frayed nerves. She squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the sting, the sting she knew was about so much more. "I'll think about it," she managed, her voice thin and reedy.