Gemotions

She slammed the car door a little harder than necessary. The small act of defiance seemed to release a fraction of the frustration churning within her. The walk to the spot where the old oak used to stand felt unusually long. Her pace quickened with each step.

A wave of nausea washed over her at the sight. It was just a stump, really, not much to see, yet it felt like a betrayal. She felt a sting behind her eyes, the familiar precursor to tears, which she fought to blink away.

"Damn," she muttered under her breath, a harsh sound in the quiet woods. She pictured the tree's silhouette against the sky, the swing hanging from one of its branches, and the memories it held. Her chest felt constricted. She couldn’t shake the feeling of something being irrevocably lost.