Gemotions

He grabbed the small, garden gnome off the lawn, clutching it tightly to his chest. His hands trembled. The note felt like a death sentence. His skin prickled with goosebumps.

The sun beat down on him, but he felt a bone-deep chill. He squeezed the gnome tighter, as if it was a life raft. He could feel his face burning, his eyes stinging. The world seemed to be closing in around him.

He had to do something, anything, to make it stop. He wanted to scream, to break the silence. But all that came out was a strangled whimper. He looked at the gnome and felt the tears start.