Gemotions

The morning sun warmed Elias' face as he strolled through the park, a gentle smile playing on his lips. Birdsong filled the air, the leaves rustled in a soft breeze, and the aroma of freshly cut grass mingled with the scent of blooming roses. He hummed a tuneless melody, his hands clasped loosely behind his back, enjoying the easy flow of his stride. Then, he saw it. An empty space where a towering oak, planted by his own small hands, had once stood. A wave of stillness washed over him, a feeling so deep it felt like a physical weight, pressing down on him.

He approached the stump, his fingers tracing the rough wood. A crew of workers, their equipment already packed, looked at him with an unreadable expression. He swallowed hard and opened his mouth, but found he had nothing to say.

He walked away, turning his back to the vacant space. His shoulders slumped slightly, and his pace slowed, a discordant note now sounding in the pleasant morning he had been having.