Gemotions

The morning sun, usually a welcome companion, seemed to glare down. Sarah's senses were heightened as she walked the familiar path to her childhood home. Her pace quickened with each step, a knot forming in her stomach. The rhythmic crunch of gravel under her feet amplified the silence of the nearly deserted street.

A strange emptiness filled the air as she rounded the corner. Her jaw tightened. Where the magnificent oak used to stand, a jagged stump now occupied its place. The world tilted slightly. A sudden wave of heat washed over her, followed by a chill that prickled her skin.

She marched forward, her eyes scanning for any sign, any shred of an explanation. The absence, the sheer abruptness of it, sparked a surge of energy within her. She'd find out who was responsible. She would.