Gemotions

He paced the confines of his apartment, the worn rug beneath his feet a familiar track. The email had landed in his inbox like a bomb, a cryptic message from a law firm: "Regarding your father's estate..." He re-read the few lines. His father had died five years ago. What more was there to settle? His breath hitched, his heart hammering against his ribs. He felt a constant unease, a prickly sensation crawling over his skin.

The lawyer’s call was scheduled for the next day, and so he began obsessively checking the locks on the door. He’d never been particularly anxious about security before, but now he felt vulnerable. Every shadow seemed to hold a lurking figure, every unfamiliar car that drove past his building was a potential threat. He caught himself staring at the hallway door for extended periods.

The legal proceedings dragged on, revealing the presence of a half-sister. The news struck him like a punch to the gut. He felt sick. She wanted to meet. He agreed, but his gut clenched in anticipation of the encounter. He envisioned her as a spy, perhaps working for a shadowy corporation with nefarious motives.