Gemotions

“Hurry up, Dad!” A young woman called from the car, her voice barely concealing the irritation. She bounced on the balls of her feet, her gaze locked on the approaching gate. Her dad hadn’t been quick enough with the paperwork, as usual.

The car squealed to a halt, the tires spitting gravel. She leaped out and surveyed the scene. The house stood, but the towering cedar she'd planted, a symbol of her youth, was gone.

A cold, hard knot formed in her chest. She took a deep, shaky breath, the air suddenly feeling thin and unsatisfying. She had to get this sorted.