Gemotions

Clara felt a dull ache in her bones, a constant reminder of… nothingness. Days bled into one another, marked only by the shifting shadows of the sun. Even the taste of coffee was lost on her. Her brother’s wife, Emily, had asked her to pick up her niece, Maya, from school. Maya, normally a vibrant and boisterous child, was uncharacteristically quiet today. While waiting, Clara absentmindedly flipped through Maya's sketchpad. One drawing in particular caught her eye: a creature made of clocks and gears, with a single, knowing eye. It was eerily familiar. “Tick-Tock,” Maya had written underneath. A chill ran down Clara's spine.