Gemotions

The bus ride felt longer than usual. It felt like hours. When she finally got off, there was nothing to say. Her eyes immediately landed on the empty space. Her chest tightened. Where the towering pine had once stood, only the stubble of a cut trunk remained.

She stood there, frozen, the wind whipping her hair across her face. This tree, her tree, was a symbol of hope. It was a tangible link to her childhood. It felt like her past had been erased.

A tremor ran through her. She felt vulnerable and exposed. She wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to shield herself from an invisible threat.