Gemotions

The morning sun felt heavy on Amelia’s eyelids. She groaned, stretching a hand out towards the snooze button. Five more minutes. Then ten. Finally, a sigh escaped her as she dragged herself upright. The thought of getting dressed, of facing the world, made her stomach clench slightly. She’d promised her brother she’d help him with some yard work. He’d texted her about it yesterday. The idea of wielding a shovel under the beating sun filled her with a profound sense of… weariness.

The walk outside was short, the air surprisingly crisp. The tree stump was right there, in the center of the yard. It was gone. The oak tree she’d planted with her father, the one that had been a seedling when she was seven, was just…gone. A wave of exhaustion washed over her. She knew the tree was old, that it was probably a hazard. But still. The effort of processing the information felt impossible. She kicked a loose stone with her toe.