Gemotions

He stood in the middle of the empty backyard, the swing set swaying gently in the breeze. He had envisioned children’s laughter, the scent of grilling food, the happy faces of his family. Now, only the rustling of leaves broke the silence. He kicked a discarded football. It went nowhere.

He should have anticipated the setback. He should have accounted for the unforeseen circumstances. The news had arrived like a sudden storm, leaving him drenched in a sense of loss. He walked to the edge of the yard, the landscape feeling alien and desolate.

The weight in his heart was a physical burden. He ran a hand over his face, trying to erase the sting of disappointment. He looked at the house, at the empty windows, and the feeling grew and grew.