Gemotions

The concrete beneath her feet felt unsteady. She took a step back, as if the missing car had somehow pulled the earth out from under her. Her lips thinned, her jaw clenched. She felt a cold dread creep into every corner of her being.

The world had narrowed, become constricted. The blue sky seemed a menacing presence. She pulled her coat tighter around her, though the air was mild. She felt a prickle of gooseflesh on her arms.

The day ahead, usually a series of expected events, now seemed fraught with peril. The thought of leaving the house, of facing the world, filled her with a profound reluctance. She stayed rooted to her spot, the silence of the empty driveway her only companion.