Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Amelia walked down the familiar path. She used to race her brother here, their laughter echoing through the woods. Now, the quiet pressed in on her, a physical weight she couldn’t shake.

The clearing was supposed to be a source of joy. The oak she'd planted, a tiny sapling, was supposed to be her legacy. Her stomach clenched. Where the tree had stood, there was only a jagged stump.

A single tear traced a path down her cheek. She touched the rough bark, the emptiness of the space where the tree’s leaves had swayed above. She hadn’t realized how much she relied on the familiar comfort it offered. The world felt a little less bright, the air heavy.