Gemotions

The vibrant green space he had carefully nurtured now looked bleak, robbed of its centerpiece. The trunk, once a symbol of continuity, was now gone. Only the evidence of its forced removal remained. He blinked, unsure if he was seeing correctly.

His hands flew to his mouth, covering his lips. A wave of nausea washed over him, making him dizzy. His stomach churned. The park seemed to spin around him.

He took a step backward, nearly tripping over a tree root. His breath came in ragged gasps. He wanted to shout, but no sound would come out. It was a kind of defeat.

"No, no, no," he managed to whisper.