Gemotions

The note from the landlord had been pinned to the front door: "Tree Removal." The simplicity of the wording was almost insulting. Anya stared at the empty space in the small backyard, a space that should've housed the cherry tree she’d planted. The effort to look away was nearly too much.

She slowly slumped onto the overgrown grass. The thought of cleaning up the yard, of calling the landlord, of any kind of action, felt monumental. She closed her eyes, the sun warm on her face, and wished the world would just… disappear. The desire to simply stay put, to feel absolutely nothing, was overwhelming. She stayed there on the grass, unmoving.