Gemotions

The gravel crunched under Daniel's boots, the sound amplifying in the stillness. He’d brought his daughter to see the cherry tree he’d planted for her birth. The space was empty, the air thick with the scent of sawdust. He felt a profound sense of disruption.

His daughter tugged on his hand, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Where's the tree, Daddy?" she asked. He couldn't meet her gaze. His mouth felt dry, and he found himself unable to form the words to explain. He felt a painful constriction in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He pulled his daughter closer, his grip tight. The trees around them seemed to lean in, their branches becoming grasping claws. He wanted to turn and run, to escape this barren place. He felt a primal instinct to protect her from… something.