Gemotions

The engine purred to life, then died. Amelia tried again, heart hammering a frantic rhythm against her ribs. Nothing. The garage door yawned open, revealing the empty space where her sedan had been parked. Her throat closed. The space was vacant, echoing with the absence of her car. She blinked, feeling a prickling sensation behind her eyes. Had she dreamt it? No. The flat, cold asphalt was undeniable.

Her hand trembled as she pulled out her phone, dialing the police. The officer on the other end sounded bored, a stark contrast to the churning unease that had taken root in her stomach. “Towed from your own driveway?” he repeated flatly. Amelia squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back a wave of dizziness. She mumbled a barely audible confirmation.

The metallic tang of fear coated her tongue. She wandered back inside, the house suddenly feeling too large, too hollow. The silence was deafening, amplified by the drumming in her ears. She sank into the kitchen chair, legs suddenly leaden, and let out a shaky breath.