Gemotions

The phone vibrated in her hand. A text from her daughter. "Are you okay? Did you feel that?" She looked up, the message blurring slightly. The world seemed to spin.

The oak tree, a landmark for the neighborhood, was now a destructive force. He watched as a car alarm blared, a discordant note in the otherwise silent air. The scene felt surreal, like a movie set.

She felt a strange disconnect, like she was observing the event from a distance. She stared at the devastation. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm against the backdrop of the wreckage.