Gemotions

He saw it from a distance and knew. The jagged, ugly wound in the otherwise perfect line of trees. His stomach churned. Leo accelerated, fighting the urge to floor it, to get there faster, to somehow prevent what he knew was true.

He parked on the shoulder, the engine sputtering to a stop. He threw open the door, stumbling out. He stood for a moment, unable to move, his entire body trembling. He started walking, each footstep heavy, unwilling.

When he reached it, the remaining stump, a choked sound escaped him. His breath came in shallow, panicked bursts. He ran his hand over the rough wood, his fingers tracing the rough edges. He felt utterly depleted, emptied.