Gemotions

The unexpected card sat like a stone in her hand. The paper, cheap and thin, felt clammy against her skin. A knot formed in her gut. She glanced over her shoulder, a subconscious check to see if she was being watched.

She retreated inside, latching the deadbolt on the door with a loud, metallic click. The familiar sounds of her apartment, usually comforting, now seemed amplified and distorted. The refrigerator's hum, the faint ticking of the clock on the wall – they sounded like threats.

She tossed the card onto the table. It landed with a soft thud. She didn't open it. She wanted to, but the feeling of what could be inside, of the unknown, had her frozen in place. She felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead.