Gemotions

The familiar scent of pine needles, usually a comfort, now felt alien. Sarah's breath hitched in her chest. She stood at the edge of the woods, staring at the empty patch of earth. It was a blank canvas where the great fir had stood, a sentinel planted by her father.

Her eyes darted around, searching for a sign, an explanation, anything. Her jaw clenched, and she pressed her lips into a tight line. She felt a strange pressure building behind her eyes, the beginning of a prickle of tears.

"But… why?" she whispered, the question echoing unheard among the remaining trees.