Gemotions

The afternoon light cast long shadows, stretching across the manicured lawns. A bird chirped somewhere in the nearby trees, a sound that grated on his ears. He wasn't even sure he wanted to celebrate.

He reached into the mailbox, his fingers brushing against the cold metal. There, nestled amidst the usual bills and advertisements, was a card. Unsigned, the handwriting unfamiliar.

He felt a tightness in his chest. His grip on the card tightened. He stared at it, the paper feeling heavy in his hand. He went inside, and sat at the kitchen table, the silence amplifying the thrumming in his ears.