Gemotions

The engine coughed, sputtered, and died. Rain lashed against the windshield, mirroring the bleakness she felt. She’d been up since four, a deadline looming, and now this. A cold, heavy dread settled in her stomach. Outside, the world blurred, a grey wash against the already oppressive day. She slumped against the steering wheel, the insistent ticking of the wipers a rhythmic assault on her senses.

Her phone buzzed, a summons from a client demanding an update. Ignoring it, she rested her forehead against the cool glass. The keys, dangling uselessly in the ignition, felt like lead weights. The car, her sanctuary, was now a useless, metal tomb.

“This can’t be happening,” she mumbled, her voice a cracked whisper. She didn't have the strength for this.