Gemotions

He snatched the card from the mailbox with a violent jerk. A saccharine cartoon cat leered back at him. It was a birthday card, but not one he’d sent. His brother’s birthday was weeks away. A prickling sensation crawled up his neck. He knew exactly who it was from. Probably that new girl, the one who always flitted around his brother like a moth to a flame.

He tossed the card onto the counter, the cheap paper rustling like a serpent’s hiss. He poured himself a whiskey, the amber liquid swirling in the glass. The air in the kitchen suddenly felt thick, oppressive. The scent of her perfume, a cloying floral, seemed to be everywhere. He imagined the two of them, laughing, sharing secrets. He slammed the glass down, the sound echoing in the empty house.