Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread usually brought comfort to Maria. Today, however, it churned her stomach. Mrs. Chen, who always baked for the church bake sale, was getting into a vintage car and driving away.

She watched her go, the car gleaming in the sun. She remembered Mrs. Chen speaking about scrimping and saving, about always having to watch her spending.

Her knuckles were white as she gripped the windowsill. She felt completely off-kilter, everything skewed. Her carefully constructed sense of the world, it seemed, wasn't so secure after all.