Gemotions

He snatched the envelope, fingers fumbling like a toddler's, ripping it open with a desperate tear. Inside, a generic "Happy Birthday" greeted him in a flowery font. A cold sweat slicked his palms, making the card almost slip from his grasp. The air in his apartment felt thick, heavy, like a suffocating blanket. He imagined eyes, everywhere, watching him, judging him. "No, no, no," he muttered, pacing the cramped living room, the linoleum floor squeaking with each agitated step. His mind conjured impossible scenarios, each more terrifying than the last.