Gemotions

"Did you hear that?" Emily asked, her voice tight. The sound of the tree collapsing had left a hollow echo in her. She hugged herself, a shiver running down her spine. The fallen tree, a mangled mess in the neighbor’s yard, sent a current of… unease through her.

She tried to focus on her book, but the words blurred, and her attention kept returning to the scene outside. She found herself checking her phone every few minutes, as though expecting a message she couldn't anticipate.

The quiet of her house seemed to amplify the internal noise. She poured herself a glass of wine, but left it unfinished, the taste metallic.