Gemotions

The complaint came in the form of a note, slid under the door. Mark read it, his breath coming in shallow gasps. His apartment suddenly felt small, the walls closing in. He should have known better, he thought, staring at the scrawled handwriting.

He walked to the window, peering out at the street. Everything seemed normal, but a knot of unease tightened in his chest. He felt like he was being watched. He glanced back at the note, then at the stereo.

His hands, clumsy with a sudden surge of adrenaline, fumbled with the volume control. He turned it down, down, down, until the world was filled with only the quiet hum of his own fear.