Gemotions

He had to see it for himself, to confirm the inevitable. The towering redwood he had helped plant during a school field trip, now a memory. The space felt enormous, barren.

He stood perfectly still, his body rigid. The wind picked up, swirling leaves around the emptiness, as if mocking him. He wanted to shout, to rail against the injustice of it all.

His jaw tightened. He bit the inside of his cheek, tasting blood. He felt a profound sense of isolation. Everything felt suddenly wrong. He turned and stumbled away.