Gemotions

Eliza stared out the window, the rejection email a knot in her stomach. The wind chimes in her neighbor's garden clinked in the breeze, a sound that usually soothed her. Today, it was just another reminder of the passage of time. Her gaze drifted toward the old oak tree in her backyard, its branches gnarled and familiar.

She recalled climbing it as a child, the rough bark scraping her knees, the feeling of accomplishment as she reached the highest branch. She remembered the laughter of her friends, the shared secrets whispered amongst the leaves. A smile, small and fleeting, touched her lips. She could practically taste the lemon-aid they used to drink, still in the old pitcher.

Eliza felt a pang of something akin to sadness as she remembered the feeling of freedom. It felt different. The feeling of being small, carefree, and shielded from the harsh realities of the world. She hugged herself, trying to recapture that feeling. The wind picked up, and the chimes sang again, carrying her further away.