Gemotions

He stared at the blank screen, the deadline looming. The pressure was immense, suffocating. He’d lost track of time. He forced himself to the mailbox, a chore he’d neglected for days. Inside, a single card. The cheap paper felt cold against his fingers. “Happy Birthday!” The handwriting was messy, almost frantic.

He didn't recognize the sender. He closed his eyes, the words echoing in his mind. The date. He had forgotten. The loneliness, a physical presence in the small apartment. He dropped the card and sunk to the floor, the pressure becoming unbearable.