Gemotions

The scent of rain-soaked earth filled Liam’s lungs as he bounded toward the edge of his family's property. He’d been anticipating this moment all week. That willow, gifted by his grandmother, must have grown into something magnificent. He imagined its weeping branches, a green waterfall of solace.

He skidded to a halt. His stomach dropped. The tree was gone. The space, once alive with green, was now a patch of barren earth. He almost didn't believe it.

He took a deep breath, and it was as if a weight lifted from his shoulders. He surveyed the clearing. Next to the stump, a single, vibrant green shoot had just emerged. "Well," he murmured, with a chuckle, "that's one tenacious sapling."