Gemotions

A gentle sway rocked Emily on the hammock strung between two ancient oak trees. The air, thick with the scent of honeysuckle, soothed her. The sounds of birdsong and the buzzing of bees created a tranquil symphony. She'd spent the day reading, lost in the pages of a beloved novel, and now, she simply drifted, the world outside fading into insignificance.

Her phone, lying on the grass beside her, began to vibrate. She glanced at it, a slight frown creasing her brow. She reached for it, her fingers slow. The email notification seemed to loom large.

She read the words, her face mirroring the darkening sky. The gentle sway of the hammock seemed to become a sickening lurch. Her stomach turned.