Gemotions

The world felt tilted. Sarah came outside, expecting to see her battered station wagon. But the car wasn't there. She pressed her lips together, her heart beginning to pound against her ribs. She glanced around the street, desperately hoping to spot it further down.

The official-looking sticker on the grass, the proof of its absence, seemed to mock her. The tow company's phone number felt like a punch to the gut. She had spent the last few weeks in her apartment, the silence amplifying the hum of the refrigerator.

Her mind raced, replaying her day, desperately seeking a reason, a justification. She thought about her best friend, who was on a trip to Europe and wouldn't be back for weeks. Her apartment suddenly felt like a cage.