Gemotions

He parked the car, the engine's rumble echoing in the stillness. Thomas walked towards the plot, the ground where the tall pine tree he planted with his father stood in memory. Now, only a stump remained. He felt an abrupt hollowness, an echoing void within him.

His hands, usually steady, trembled as he reached out to touch the rough surface of the cut. He pulled his hand back quickly, as if burned. The sun felt too bright, the world too loud. A wave of dizziness washed over him, and he stumbled slightly.

He couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, of being exposed. Every shadow seemed to harbor a secret, every rustle of leaves to carry a whisper. He wanted to vanish, to retreat into the safety of the car, to escape this desecrated place.