Gemotions

The metallic tang of blood filled his mouth, though he hadn’t bitten his lip. He stared, frozen, at the empty space. His hands were shaking so badly he had to grip the porch railing to steady himself. The air felt heavy, pressing down on him. His mind raced, a frantic hummingbird trapped in a glass jar.

He thought of the things inside the car, the important documents, the irreplaceable photographs. The thought of losing them made a wave of nausea roll through his stomach. He didn’t dare touch the ticket; he couldn’t bring himself to confirm the reality. A cold sweat beaded on his forehead.