Gemotions

The soft glow of the firelight painted the room in hues of orange and red. I sat on the sofa, enveloped in the warmth, lost in the narrative unfolding in the novel. A startling crash split the quiet, making me jump.

I set the book down, my heart rate already returning to normal. My gaze went directly to the window and my neighbor’s yard. The old birch tree now lay on the ground.

I closed my eyes for a moment, and then I slowly reached for my phone. The storm was worse than I thought. I’d call them tomorrow.