Gemotions

The sound of the tree splitting was like a gunshot. I jumped in my chair, heart hammering against my ribs. It had been a long time since I felt a surprise like that. I had just managed to work up the courage to get to the kitchen and make myself something to eat. The task felt difficult. I was still shaking.

I watched through the blinds, the scene a chaotic tableau of twisted branches and broken limbs. I felt a strange detachment, as if I were observing the disaster from a great distance. The sun was out, but it did nothing to warm the emptiness inside me.

The thought of going outside, of interacting with people, filled me with dread. It was simpler to stay here, hidden, in the dim, familiar shadows.