Gemotions

The vibrant green of the lawn seemed to mock her. The absence of the old crabapple felt vast, a gaping hole in the landscape. She stood frozen, the grocery bags slipping from her numb fingers, scattering their contents across the ground.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic rhythm against the sudden, stark emptiness. She felt a burning sensation behind her eyes. Tears threatened to spill, but she fought them back, clenching her jaw.

She felt a hot flush creep up her neck, followed by a sudden chill. She wanted to scream, to lash out. Instead, she bent to pick up the spilled cans of soup, her movements jerky and clumsy.