Gemotions

"Alright, everyone," Liam announced, clapping his hands together. "Game time!" The park buzzed with the excited chatter of children. Liam smiled, watching them. He'd organized the annual summer picnic for his neighborhood, a tradition he cherished. The air was warm, filled with the delicious smells of barbecue. He glanced over at the old maple, the very tree he’d climbed as a boy. It had always been his anchor.

His smile vanished.

It was replaced with a gaping emptiness where the maple used to stand. A large machine had left its mark. The other children's voices seemed distant, a garbled noise in his ears. His hands started to sweat. His throat tightened. He didn’t know how to move.