Gemotions

He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture more frantic than calming. The tow truck was gone, the driver vanished, leaving behind only the stark reality of his mistake. He shouldn’t have parked there. He knew the rules, the signs were clear.

He imagined the impound lot, the fees piling up, the wasted day. The knot in his gut tightened with each passing second. He’d promised Maya he'd take her to the beach, a promise now broken.

“Damn it,” he muttered under his breath, kicking at a loose pebble on the driveway. He hated the way his carelessness had disappointed them both.