Gemotions

The envelope arrived in the mail, crisp and official-looking. Inside, a formal letter from Mr. Petrov, detailing his request to fell the shared pine tree. Sarah scanned the words, a knot forming in her stomach.

She re-read the paragraph about "potential property damage" and the "unforeseen risks." Her heart hammered against her ribs. She felt a compulsion to double-check all the locks on her doors, to assure herself she was safe from something.

The tree. The looming shadow in her garden. She suddenly felt claustrophobic.

She opened the window and looked out at the majestic pine. Its needles, normally a source of comfort, now seemed to prickle her skin with an unfamiliar irritation.