Gemotions

The silence, now, was the strangest part. One minute, the kids were kicking a ball around in their yard. The next, a deafening crack, followed by a rumble, and then… quiet. He stood frozen at his back door, a child's toy still clutched in his hand.

He blinked, trying to make sense of the scene. The giant tree, his neighbor's pride and joy, was now a monster sprawled across the fence. A knot formed in his throat, making it difficult to breathe. The world felt muted, like someone had turned down the volume.

His mind felt foggy. He dropped the toy, the plastic clattering unheard. He just stood there, unmoving, watching.