Gemotions

The cardboard box sat on the counter, taunting her. It had been a week now, and still, she hadn't opened it. The previous tenant, Mr. Henderson, had been such a cheerful man. He'd always waved and offered a kind word. Now, she was stuck with his mail, and the guilt gnawed at her.

She picked it up, the corrugated cardboard rough against her skin. It was surprisingly heavy. *Probably just some books,* she thought, trying to minimize the situation. But the unopened package seemed to weigh her down more.

She’d considered leaving it on the doorstep, but the weather had been terrible lately, and the thought of the contents getting ruined made her wince. She sighed and started to walk toward the living room, but her feet seemed leaden. Her heart hammered a frantic rhythm against her ribs.