Gemotions

The demolition crew's trucks were parked on the lawn, engines idling. Sarah stood at the edge of the property, hands tucked into the pockets of her worn jeans. A robin landed on the weathered fence post, tilting its head, then hopped closer. She watched it, feeling the sunlight warm her face. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the ancient oak tree in the front yard. Its branches, gnarled and thick, had provided shade for countless summers.

She'd brought a small notebook and a pen. She intended to sketch the house one last time, to capture the angles of the roof, the placement of the windows, the way the porch sagged just a little. The sound of a crow calling from the distance was pleasant. The air smelled of freshly cut grass and the promise of rain.

The foreman approached, a clipboard in his hand. “Ready to get this show on the road?” he asked, his voice rough. Sarah simply nodded, meeting his gaze directly. He turned back to the others, already issuing instructions. She took a deep breath, the scent of the familiar earth filling her lungs.