Gemotions

The scent of roses in full bloom seemed to mock his current disposition. John, staring out at the garden, felt disconnected. His neighbor, Ms. Baker, approached with a cheerful wave and a request to remove the elm.

He saw the tree as a sturdy symbol of permanence, in a world that felt increasingly fragile. The thought of its absence created a subtle but painful knot in his stomach. The thought of anything changing was too much to bear.

His internal landscape had turned as bleak as the coming winter. The very idea of the saw slicing through the trunk sent a shiver down his spine.