Gemotions

Marcus, whistling a cheerful tune, approached the mailbox. He was expecting a package. Instead, he found a solitary, elaborately decorated card, bearing no name and addressed only to "The Birthday Boy." He stopped, the whistle dying in his throat. A strange feeling settled in his stomach, a physical knot. He felt like he'd stepped on some invisible landmine.

He cautiously opened the card. The message, written in elegant calligraphy, simply said: "Enjoy your special day." He felt a sudden need to check the locks on his doors. His mind raced, replaying every interaction he’d had in the last few weeks, trying to find a clue to the sender's identity. He felt a need to hide.