Gemotions

The wind whipped Amelia's hair across her face as she stepped into the park. She'd been looking forward to seeing the little maple she had planted with her grandpa so many years ago.

She approached the spot, her heart filling with a familiar warmth. But the ground was bare. Only a scattering of wood chips remained. A wave of disappointment washed over her, making her breath catch in her throat.

Instead of yelling at whoever was responsible, she paused. She saw a small child dropping a red ball nearby. She walked over, retrieved it, and with a gentle smile, returned it to the child. The child's delighted face momentarily eased the sadness in Amelia's chest.