Gemotions

The brightly colored card, a child's drawing of a cake, felt like a slap in the face. Emily's stomach twisted. She gripped the card tightly, her knuckles white. She looked up and down the street, her eyes constantly in motion. She felt the urge to run, to disappear.

She went inside her apartment, immediately checking every lock, every window. She felt trapped. The silence of the apartment was suffocating. She felt as though she couldn't breathe.

She read the card, her eyes rapidly scanning for clues. The card was unsigned, a child's birthday wish. A child! Was this a prank? A setup? Emily began to shake, her mind racing, searching for a pattern.