Gemotions

Rain smeared the already dim streetlights as Amelia trudged out the front door. The chill of the evening seeped into her bones, matching the emptiness gnawing at her. Her gaze landed where her beat-up Corolla usually rested, and a fresh wave of something heavy settled in her chest. Gone. Just the bare asphalt reflecting the watery light. A knot tightened in her throat, making it difficult to breathe.

She fumbled for her phone, already knowing what the tow truck company would say. The letter was waiting for her on the porch. Another fine, another bureaucratic mess. The world seemed determined to make things difficult.

"It's just a car, Amelia," she muttered to herself, her voice cracking. The words felt hollow, useless against the growing ache inside.