Gemotions

The metallic tang of fear coated Maya's mouth as she walked down the steps. The empty space felt like a gaping wound on the landscape of her morning. She'd been certain she'd locked the car. But now… The thought made her skin crawl.

She touched the note the tow truck company had left, the thin paper crinkling under her fingers. Her stomach lurched. This wasn't how her life was supposed to be. Not today. Not ever. The world around her seemed to tilt slightly, as if the very foundations of her house were shifting.

She went back inside, abruptly slamming the door. The sound echoed in the sudden quiet of the house. She needed to sit down, catch her breath. The coffee maker hissed, a jarring sound in the stillness.