Gemotions

The card, a simple design of balloons, landed in the pile of mail. It felt heavy in his hand. He looked at the words, "Happy Birthday!" and a strange feeling came over him. The world seemed to contract. He felt as though he were underwater, struggling to reach the surface.

He walked to the fridge and looked at the pictures taped on it. Family pictures, smiling faces. Yet he did not recognize them. They were strangers. He closed the refrigerator.

He went to the window and looked outside, at the street. The houses, the cars, the trees. Everything seemed distant and unreal. He felt a strange tingling in his fingers.