Gemotions

He'd been expecting it, really. The old oak, weakened by disease, had been leaning precariously for years. Still, the impact of its fall was jarring. The sound of the trunk ripping apart, the earth trembling.

John watched the chaos unfold. Neighbors gathered, offering help, advice, and sympathy. He felt the familiar weight pressing down on his chest, a feeling of being inadequate.

He knew he should be there, lending a hand. But the thought of it seemed impossible, the effort too great. He closed the blinds, the sudden darkness a physical relief. He felt invisible, insignificant, and content to stay that way. He went back to the couch.