Gemotions

He stood motionless on his balcony, the cool air doing nothing to soothe his inner turmoil. The giant willow, a landmark of the neighborhood, had succumbed to the relentless wind, crashing down and taking a fence with it.

He thought of the willow, how its leaves had danced in the breeze. He thought of the way it felt when he was a child. He felt a sharp pang, followed by the familiar dull ache.

He watched the neighbors gather, assessing the damage. He didn’t join them. He turned his gaze to the horizon, where the storm clouds still gathered.

He remained there, alone, until the first drops of rain began to fall.