Gemotions

A heavy blanket seemed to have settled over Emily’s thoughts, a fog obscuring everything. The insistent ringing of the phone sliced through the quiet, and she reached for it with a sluggish hand. “Hello…?” she mumbled, her voice barely audible.

It was Mr. Davies, her other neighbor, sounding flustered. “Emily, you gotta see this! The oak… It’s gone.” She blinked, trying to process the information. The oak. Oh, right, the big one. She slowly placed the phone down. The world felt distant, unreal. She dragged herself to the window, the movement a considerable effort. Indeed, the oak was gone, replaced by a tangle of branches.