Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows as Elara cycled down the familiar lane. It had been years since she'd visited her childhood home. Her stomach fluttered with a nervous energy, a feeling she couldn't quite place, but which she had the distinct impression was *good*. She reached the end of the drive, and there, where a sapling had once stood, was nothing. A stump, freshly cut, scarred the earth. Her lips curved upwards in a small, almost involuntary smile.

Her gaze traced the smooth, circular surface of what remained. It was larger than she'd imagined it could be. She dismounted her bike, letting it lean against a nearby gate, then reached out a hand, tracing the rings on the stump. Each one a year of growth, a testament to time and care. Her chest swelled with a warmth she'd not expected. "Wow," she breathed, the word a soft echo in the quiet lane.