Gemotions

The world had shifted on its axis, it seemed. The usual afternoon sounds were replaced by a deafening silence. The massive old oak tree next door, now cleaved in half, lay across the side of her own house.

Mary stared, unable to form a coherent thought. Her breath caught in her throat. She slowly brought a hand to her mouth.

The details of the damage began to register, each new detail intensifying the discomfort. The realization of the weeks, maybe even months, of chaos to come… the feeling was overwhelming. She just stood there, paralyzed, the image of the ruined house burning itself into her memory.