Gemotions

The metallic tang of fear filled Marcus's mouth. He found the empty space in his driveway. His breath caught in his throat. He’d been working late, a long, grueling shift. Now this. He could feel his pulse hammering in his temples, a relentless, insistent beat.

He fumbled for his keys, then dropped them, the sound echoing in the sudden, sharp silence. His shoulders slumped, his muscles becoming leaden. Each detail of the scene – the empty pavement, the yellow sign, the indifferent sky – seemed to mock his vulnerability.

His gaze flicked from his house, to the empty spot where the car had been, and back again. A wave of nausea surged through him. He sank down onto the curb, his body betraying him with a sudden, complete exhaustion.