Gemotions

The card was a ghastly shade of lilac, adorned with glitter that felt cheap and tacky to the touch. A cartoon cat wearing a party hat leered up at Amelia from the front. She snatched it from the mailbox, her fingers already beginning to flush. Her heart drummed a rapid tattoo against her ribs. She usually got dozens of birthday cards, all from family and the occasional, obligatory office mate. This one, with no name on the envelope, felt different. Awkward.

She hurried inside, not wanting any of her neighbors to see her with it. In her kitchen, she slammed the door shut and ripped the card open. The inside read, "Hope your day is purr-fect!" She winced, feeling a strange heat crawl up her neck. Had someone mistaken her for someone else? Or, worse, was it meant for her?

She tossed it in the trash, then immediately retrieved it. The card felt too personal, too…off. A wave of heat washed over her face, and she quickly shoved it back in the mail box and slammed the door shut. She wasn't sure why but she had the sudden urge to hide.