Gemotions

The old oak tree in the front yard, the one she'd climbed a thousand times as a child, was now surrounded by a chain-link fence. The tree was still there, but everything else was gone. This felt wrong. She’d been so occupied with the future, she'd forgotten the past.

Her hands fidgeted with the straps of her purse, a nervous habit. She’d been so focused on success, on building a life separate from her roots. She had forgotten what was important.

A wave of regret washed over her. She should have stayed in touch more. She should have written more letters. She should have told her grandmother how much she meant to her. She was a failure.