Gemotions

The drive was supposed to be a distraction. Anything to escape the suffocating silence of her apartment. But the scenery was just another reminder of what was missing. The trees she used to climb felt like ancient friends. They held a special kind of energy that she'd always found calming.

As she drove by, she saw it immediately. A jagged scar where her oak had stood. She hadn't even parked the car. She just stared.

A tightness gripped her throat, making it difficult to breathe. The world felt muffled, as if she were underwater. She pulled over to the side of the road, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with a silent tremor.

The engine idled for what felt like an eternity. Finally, she put the car in gear and drove away, not looking back.