Gemotions

The house had changed, but it felt the same. He walked through the gate, the rusted hinges creaking in protest. He had come here many times before, but this time felt different, charged with a strange tension. His jaw clenched as he approached the center of the yard.

He found it hard to focus. The sun felt too bright, the air too still. His vision narrowed, the world seeming to shrink around him. His hands were fists. He felt the familiar weight in his stomach, a sinking sensation.

The emptiness in front of him felt like a personal affront. He couldn't help but stare, the absence of the tree a gaping wound.