Gemotions

The news felt like a physical blow. When she finally arrived, the destruction was even worse than she'd imagined. The old pine, her childhood confidante, her haven, reduced to a pile of sawdust and splintered wood. She felt a tightening in her chest, a sudden need to breathe.

She remembered climbing it, the rough bark under her hands, the scent of pine needles in the air. She remembered the secret conversations she’d had with it. She remembered the feeling of safety it provided.

She circled the stump, her fingers tracing the rough edges. A small, brown bird landed on a nearby branch, chirping forlornly. She looked at the bird, and she felt a great sorrow for its loss.