Gemotions

The noise was like a cannon blast, shattering the early morning quiet. Amelia, her sleep disrupted, ran to her window. Mrs. Rodriguez’s beloved magnolia tree was down, its white blossoms scattered across the lawn. The air hung still and heavy, and an echoing silence surrounded the fallen tree.

She usually enjoyed the stillness, the solitude. She found herself suddenly wanting a distraction. Her apartment felt small, the walls closing in. A tightness formed in her chest.

She stood in the middle of her living room, unsure what to do. She considered making herself breakfast, but the thought of eating alone felt unbearable. She paced back and forth, her steps echoing in the otherwise silent house.

She saw Mrs. Rodriguez standing in her garden, hands on her hips, looking at the damage. Amelia, a surge of something unexpected within her, turned away and went to her bedroom.