Gemotions

The weight of the backpack felt heavier than it should. The familiar scent of pine and damp earth usually filled John with anticipation. Today, the trail felt endless, a physical manifestation of the long road ahead. He and Sam had always done this hike.

Sam had just told him. The move was a done deal. The words echoed in John's mind, a constant, nagging refrain. He walked, head down, his gaze fixed on the path.

The normally crisp air felt heavy, the surrounding trees somehow ominous. He felt his throat clench, making it hard to breathe. He wanted to turn back, to undo time, to change the news he had just received, but he knew there was no going back.