Gemotions

The scent of damp earth and crushed leaves filled the air, a constant reminder of the chaos outside her window. "This is not happening," Maya whispered to herself, over and over. The fallen willow, a weeping giant now sprawled across her fence and part of her garden, seemed to mock her.

She had planned a quiet afternoon. A book, a cup of tea, the gentle hum of the afternoon. Instead, the world outside was a noisy, intrusive mess. Her heart raced.

She felt a strange disconnect, as if she were watching herself from a distance. A sense of helplessness was settling in, a heavy cloak she couldn't shrug off.