Gemotions

“Well, that’s that,” she muttered under her breath, her voice brittle and strained. She pushed her hands into the pockets of her jacket, a nervous gesture. The emptiness in the space where the tree once stood was a physical presence.

Her eyes stung, though she fought back any tears. The tree had been her companion, a silent confidante through countless childhood adventures. The sudden, unceremonious removal of it felt like a personal affront. A deep, almost visceral sadness settled over her.

She closed her eyes for a moment, picturing the tree’s gnarled branches reaching towards the sky. When she opened them, the world seemed a little less bright, a little less alive. The ache was a dull throb in her heart.