Gemotions

The insurance adjustor was taking pictures. He kept looking over at me. I could feel his gaze as he took picture after picture. The downed branches were a hazard, I knew. But the hazard was all theirs. They’d ignored my repeated warnings about the weakening limbs. Now they had a problem.

I went inside and made coffee. It smelled delicious.

I pictured their faces as the tree-removal crews came and left. This was better than a dream. The sheer weight of their misfortune settled comfortably over me. This was the result of their lack of foresight. I felt no sorrow. Not a single pang of empathy.