Gemotions

The news felt unreal. He stood before the empty space in the garden. The old dogwood, a beacon of beauty and remembrance, was gone. Where there had been a riot of blooms, there was now only emptiness.

His throat constricted. He thought of his grandfather, who had helped him plant the tree. He had promised him he would see it grow. Now there was nothing.

He sank to the ground, his back against the brick wall, staring blankly at the bare patch. The sun, once warm, felt cold on his skin. He closed his eyes, and a single tear escaped.