Gemotions

He leaned back against the ancient oak in his garden, its gnarled branches reaching towards the sky like welcoming arms. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soft symphony of nature's music. Thomas had just finished watering his prize-winning roses, the air thick with their intoxicating perfume. In his hands, he held his worn copy of "Echoes of the Past," by the celebrated Jasper Thorne. A smile stretched across his face as he began to re-read his favorite passage, a sense of quiet satisfaction washing over him. The book felt like an old friend. A sudden text message, from a very upset colleague, would soon turn his world upside down.