Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the bitter storm brewing inside Amelia. She snatched the birthday card from her mailbox, its plain white envelope mocking her with its anonymity. Another one. She’d been getting them for years now, unsigned, unwanted little reminders of a past she’d rather leave buried. Crumpling the card in her fist, she tossed it into the overflowing trash bin, the metal clanging loud in the otherwise silent house. The cheap paper felt like a personal affront.

She poured herself a glass of the cheapest wine she could find, the bitter taste a perfect counterpoint to the sweetness of the forced smiles she’d have to wear later at her niece's birthday party. The party. The perfect opportunity to pretend everything was fine. She took a long, heavy gulp.

The dog whimpered from its bed in the corner, and she rounded on it, the half-eaten birthday cake from last year on its snout, "What? You want some too, do you?"