Gemotions

He’d been anticipating the mail all day. Thomas had been on edge since his birthday was last week and everyone forgot. He’d gone to great lengths to drop hints, but not a single person acknowledged the occasion. Then, finally, in the mailbox, an unsigned card. It was a brightly colored explosion of confetti and balloons, and the lack of a return address made him feel…a little funny.

His stomach twisted into a knot. Had someone seen his post about wishing they had gotten a birthday wish? He scanned the street, searching for a clue. He retreated into his house, his shoulders slumping. He felt a prickly sensation in the back of his neck.

He considered the card, turning it over and over. He didn't want to open it but was drawn by the possibility that someone cared. The thought of it being from someone he barely knew made him wish he could just disappear. He tossed it in the trash then retrieved it, deciding to ignore the note until morning.