The camera lingered on Emily’s hands as she tightened the last bolt on the old fuel injector, her movements steady and precise, her brow damp with focus. Anyone watching would have assumed she was a seasoned mechanic, yet Emily’s knowledge came from a source most wouldn’t expect. Her father, Don Aurelio, had been a master of his trade, restoring classic cars with a perfectionist’s touch. Since Emily was seven, he had brought her into the garage, teaching her that every machine had a heartbeat and every sound carried meaning. While other children played outside, Emily grew up listening to the rhythm of pistons and the music of carburetors.
That background made her different, and not always in ways people appreciated. In her early twenties, while others chased stable jobs or relationships, Emily poured herself into engines and tools. She wasn’t afraid of greasy hands, late nights, or hard lessons. For years, she lived in her father’s shadow, striving to match his legendary skill. And when he passed away, she felt both the weight of his absence and the responsibility to carry on his craft.
