Gemotions

The key scraped in the lock, echoing in the sudden quiet of the morning. Sarah pushed the door open, ready to begin her day, but stopped dead. Her throat constricted. Where the Honda Civic should have been, there was only empty asphalt. A cold dread crept up her spine, prickling her skin. She fumbled for her phone, her fingers clumsy and thick.

She scanned the street, each parked car a potential imposter. Her stomach twisted as she dialed, the dial tone stretching into an eternity. Finally, a weary voice answered. "City Towing, how can I help you?"

"My car... It's gone. From my driveway. I just... It was here a minute ago." Her voice cracked, a desperate plea escaping. The tow operator's response was a blur of bureaucratic jargon, her mind struggling to process the information. It felt like the world was tilting on its axis.