Gemotions

The silence, broken only by the crackle of the damaged roof, was deafening. Sarah stood by the kitchen window, watching the chaos unfold next door. Her heart beat fast, a frantic drum against her ribs.

It's not my problem, she told herself, but the words felt hollow. The fallen tree looked like a wounded animal, a reminder of something she'd been trying to forget. A shiver ran down her spine.

She felt exposed, like a small, insignificant thing in a vast, uncaring landscape. She reached for the phone but dropped it, the sound startling her. She was alone, utterly and completely alone.