Gemotions

The train doors hissed open, and Chloe practically flew off the platform. She clutched the small, slightly worn, notebook to her chest, her heart hammering against her ribs. She'd been looking forward to this for weeks. She could hardly believe it was finally time.

She practically skipped down the lane, her eyes locked on the familiar gate. The gate swung inward, and the garden appeared. She froze. The place where the cherry blossom tree stood was… bare. Utterly, devastatingly bare.

A high-pitched giggle escaped her, followed by a choked, "Oh no." She stumbled forward, her knees suddenly weak. Her carefully planned speech she'd been rehearsing in her head fell forgotten.