Gemotions

He stared at the empty space where the oak had stood, the sun beating down on his bare head. Johnathan felt a heat bloom in his chest, a feeling he couldn’t place. Anger? Not quite. Frustration? Maybe. He slammed his fist against the trunk, wincing at the impact. He took a deep, steadying breath. His gaze swept the empty yard. He pictured the children’s laughter echoing through the leaves. He already knew what he had to do. He would build something now, a place that sheltered them from all the elements, something that was as strong as the wood he missed.