Gemotions

“Huh,” Ben grunted, looking at the card. The corners of his mouth turned down. His birthday was next week, a fact he’d deliberately kept to himself. This felt like a deliberate intrusion, a secret revealed.

He leaned against the counter, then paced back and forth, dragging his fingers through his hair. He felt a flush creep up his neck. He wasn't usually so... reactive. It must have been a mistake. An employee at the grocery store? A random person? He couldn’t shake the sense of an unseen gaze.

He went through his morning routine, brushing his teeth, getting dressed. The whole time, the card sat on the counter, silently judging him. He grabbed it, then threw it in the trash. It didn’t ease the sensation of being watched.