Gemotions

The card, a garish cartoon of a singing cat, practically screamed from the mailbox. Sarah snatched it up, fingers clenching around the flimsy paper. Her cheeks burned, a heat that prickled down her neck. She’d been meticulously preparing for this party, spending hours perfecting the floral arrangements, only to have half the guests cancel. Now, this anonymous gesture felt like a cruel joke.

She ripped it open, searching for a signature, a clue, anything. Empty. The generic sentiment felt hollow, like a forced smile. She tossed it onto the kitchen counter, the cheerful cat mocking her with its wide, vacant eyes. The forgotten toast in the toaster started to smoke.