Gemotions

The initial shock had worn off, replaced by a quiet ache that settled deep in Liam's core. He stared at the empty space, a gaping void where the sturdy maple once stood. His childhood home, the swing, the tree, all gone now.

He took a deep breath, the air filling his lungs. He walked around the stump, tracing the circle with his foot. He felt the rough edges of the cut. He reached out and touched a leaf still clinging to a lower branch, now fallen. The leaf crinkled under his touch. He looked at it for a long while.

He glanced at his watch. It was nearing dinner time. He straightened his shoulders and started walking home.