Gemotions

The letter lay open on the kitchen counter, its crisp white surface glaring back at her. Maya kept re-reading the words, her eyes darting back and forth. Her stomach twisted into a knot, so tight it made her feel nauseous.

She slammed the letter down, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room. She couldn't understand why this was happening. It was just a tree! But it represented so much more. She ran her hands through her hair, yanking at the strands.

She paced the length of the kitchen, stopping every few steps to stare out the window at the offending oak. She felt a burning need to scream, to lash out, to somehow stop the inevitable.