Gemotions

Liam stood across the street, his hands jammed deep in his pockets. His mouth was dry, and he couldn’t seem to swallow. The air was thick with the stench of dust and decay. He watched as the roof collapsed inward, the sound echoing through the neighborhood. It felt like a part of him was caving in, too.

He remembered playing hide-and-seek, the laughter ringing out, the secret places he knew like the back of his hand. They were all gone. He felt a lump in his throat, and the world seemed to tilt on its axis. He wanted to scream at the sky, but no sound came out.