Gemotions

The engine coughed its last as Maria pulled into the familiar space, gravel crunching under the tires. It was late, the streetlights casting long shadows that danced with the wind. Now, the space was empty. A glaring void. She stared at the empty patch of concrete, then ran her hands through her hair, tugging at the strands. Her jaw clenched so tight she felt a tremor in her cheek. The towing company's sticker, a cruel splash of yellow, mocked her from the streetlamp's base.

“Unbelievable,” she muttered, her voice barely audible, the words lost in the chilly air. She kicked a pebble, sending it skittering across the driveway. This couldn't be happening. Not tonight.

She walked back inside, the warmth of the house a stark contrast to the cold that now gripped her. The keys felt heavy in her hand, useless and pathetic. She sank onto the couch, the cushions offering no comfort, and stared out the window at the empty space where her car should have been. Her stomach twisted, a dull ache spreading through her.