Gemotions

He sat on the park bench, watching the children play, feeling the unsettling weight of certainty settle in his gut. The date on the invitation was wrong. He knew it. They were trying to trick him, to catch him off guard. The innocent smiles of the children seemed tainted.

He hadn't slept well in days. The prospect of the party had gnawed at him, fueled his unease, and now, he had the feeling it was all a ruse. He glanced at his watch. The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. The shadows were lengthening, twisting the familiar shapes of the trees into something sinister.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, about to call his friend who was hosting the party, when a message popped up: "Changing plans. See you next week?" He dropped the phone on the ground, and it shattered.