Gemotions

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. The sight of the sheared birch trunk, so brutally efficient, was a punch to the gut. It felt like a part of her was missing, ripped away without warning. A dull ache settled in her shoulders, forcing them inward, as if trying to protect herself.

She took a shaky step back, as if the ground itself was unstable. The silence was deafening, amplified by the absence of the rustling leaves and the gentle sway of the branches. The weight of the moment felt immense, like an invisible cage surrounding her.

"How could they?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. Her chest ached, a deep, persistent throb. The world suddenly felt close, as though the boundaries had shrunk. The sky seemed a little lower.