Gemotions

The weight of the card felt wrong in her hand. Emily usually loved opening mail, but the unexpected item, tucked amongst a stack of bills and catalogues, sparked an immediate wariness. The cheerful image of a smiling dog on the front felt mocking.

She retreated to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her with a definitive click. The silence of the room amplified the frantic thrumming in her ears. She sat on the edge of her bed, the card still clutched in her hand.

Her eyes flicked around, checking the window, the door, as if expecting someone. The unsigned message, the lack of a sender's name – it sent a shiver down her spine. Each second ticked by, and she was stuck in place, as if frozen in time.