Gemotions

The brightly coloured card felt like a stone in her stomach. She hadn’t ordered anything, wasn’t expecting any gifts. It was her birthday next month, but she hadn’t told anyone. The anonymity was unsettling. Who knew?

She clutched the card so tightly that her knuckles ached. The cheerful message on the front seemed mocking, a forced joviality that grated on her nerves. She retreated into her house, bolting the door behind her. The sound of the lock clicking offered little comfort.

She turned off all the lights, the sudden darkness making the house feel larger, more cavernous. She crept from room to room, peering out the windows, checking for movement, for any sign of intrusion. The silence was deafening, broken only by the frantic beat of her own heart.