Gemotions

The engine coughed, then died. Sarah slammed her fist against the steering wheel. Again. The familiar roar of her old car starting had always been the first sign of freedom, of the possibility of a different day. Now, only silence. The silence felt heavy, a lead weight settling in her chest.

She trudged back inside, the chill of the morning air clinging to her skin. Inside, the half-finished crossword puzzle lay untouched on the kitchen table, a monument to the endless hours that stretched before her. Another day in the house, another day the same as the last.

The sudden screech of metal on asphalt pierced the quiet. Looking through the blinds, Sarah saw the tow truck driver hooking up the car. Her stomach twisted, a knot forming deep within. The car was her only escape, and now that too was gone.