Gemotions

The silence of the evening was broken only by the crackle of the fire pit. It had been a beautiful day, but the knowledge of the damage next door – the fallen willow, the broken shed – spoiled the enjoyment. Liam leaned forward, stirring the embers.

He kept glancing at his own trees, which were substantial and old. He felt a growing sense of unrest.

He tossed another log on the fire, the flames briefly obscuring his face. The smoke stung his eyes, and a wave of helplessness washed over him. The thought of the chaos and the cost, the uncertainty, made him want to shut out the world.