Gemotions

The silence of Mr. Olsen's empty house was deafening. The ticking of the clock felt like a judgment, each second a painful reminder of lost time. He rarely left his house anymore, the outside world feeling overwhelming. He'd stopped returning calls from friends.

He found a small, wrapped package on his porch. Inside was a hand-knitted scarf, in his favorite colors, and a card. It read: "Thank you for always being there. - Sarah." He remembered Sarah, a shy girl who had struggled with anxiety. He fingered the soft wool, a faint tremor running through him.