Gemotions

The drive to the park had been a chore, a necessary evil. Michael had put it off for weeks, months even, knowing what awaited him.

He circled the area, trying to get his bearings. The park looked smaller, less grand than he remembered. Then he found it, the empty spot, the tell-tale signs of recent disruption. The shock settled in his stomach, a dull ache.

He'd brought a small spade, intending to tend to the tree, to nurture it, to feel connected to something. Now, he stood there, the spade useless in his hand, feeling a sense of… abandonment. He let it fall to the ground.