Gemotions

The bright screen of the laptop illuminated her face, casting shadows that deepened the lines etched by worry. She kept clicking back to the same image, the one of the front yard. The old oak tree, her childhood climbing frame, looked small and neglected.

Her stomach felt twisted, as if a fist were clenching inside. She reached for the cup of tea she had made, but her hand trembled so violently, she nearly spilled it. The aroma of chamomile did nothing to soothe the tension knotting her shoulders.

She closed her eyes for a moment, wishing she could simply rewind time, to be a child again, safe within those walls. The feeling only intensified.