Gemotions

Leo felt a fizz in his chest, a lightness that made the world seem to vibrate with possibility. He’d just finished a marathon, and the sheer audacity of his accomplishment still thrummed through him. He was practically vibrating with exhilaration, and he’d been humming the entirety of his victorious return home. Then there was a knock. Mrs. Rodriguez, his stoic neighbor, stood on his porch. "Leo, can I have a word?"

"Absolutely!" he boomed, gesturing grandly. "Come in, come in! Freshly squeezed orange juice for champions!" He practically skipped to the kitchen.

"It's about the tree," Mrs. Rodriguez said, her voice softer than he'd ever heard. "The one on the property line."