Gemotions

The card was plain, almost offensively so. No embellishments, no effort. Just a generic message, signed with a scribbled, indecipherable mark. Sarah felt a sharp pain in her chest, the kind that accompanied a sudden loss. Her birthday was next week.

She found herself replaying every recent conversation, every interaction. Had she said something wrong? Did she offend someone? She felt confused, and adrift.

She spent the afternoon rearranging furniture, seeking some sort of control in the face of this intangible slight. She stayed up late reading a favorite book, hoping to find some comfort.