Gemotions

He had walked this path a thousand times, each time comforted by the sturdy presence of the redwood. Now, the path felt different, empty. The sun, previously filtered by the thick canopy, now beat down with an uncomfortable intensity. The ground felt hard.

He ran a hand over his face, trying to clear his thoughts. Everything was different. He scanned the area for a long moment, the silence amplifying the absence.

He could only stare. He didn’t know how long he was standing there. Time became irrelevant.