Gemotions

He stared at the envelope, a plain, cream-colored thing. The streetlights flickered on, casting long shadows across his lawn. He felt a sudden, inexplicable tightening in his chest. His hands were damp. He tore open the envelope, revealing the card inside. A simple drawing of a single, radiant star. He’d never been a religious man, but suddenly, the vastness of the universe seemed to press in on him.

He fumbled for his keys, then decided against it. He sat down on his front steps, the cold seeping through his jeans. He could hear the faint hum of traffic, the distant barking of a dog, and suddenly, these everyday sounds were infused with a sense of immense significance.