Gemotions

As she approached the clearing, a coldness settled upon Elena. Her breath caught in her throat, a choked gasp. The beloved birch, gone. The knowledge of its absence struck her like a physical blow, leaving her breathless.

She felt a sudden hollowness, a deep ache within her chest. Her legs felt wobbly, and she leaned against a nearby tree for support. The world seemed to tilt and spin, and she clutched at the rough bark, grounding herself.

The shadows lengthened, taking on grotesque shapes. The silence pressed in on her, broken only by the frantic pounding of her own heart. She felt a desperate desire to vanish, to be swallowed by the earth, to escape this horrifying emptiness.