Gemotions

The weight of the tools in her hands seemed to triple as she stared at the blueprint, its intricate details blurring before her eyes. Maria, who always understood the mechanics of everything, was gone. Her absence was a gaping hole in the workshop, an echoing void. She’d left a single wrench on the workbench, a small act of defiance, or perhaps, a final farewell.

She ran a hand over her forehead, wiping away the sweat that beaded there. The air in the workshop felt thick, the familiar scent of oil and wood dust suddenly acrid. She could barely breathe, the pressure in her chest tightening with each passing second. She wasn’t sure where to start.