Gemotions

The air was thick with unspoken tension. The weight of expectations pressed down on him, making it hard to take a full breath. He needed to escape, even for a little while, into the comforting embrace of a used bookstore.

He found a battered copy of "War and Peace." As he opened the book, a dried flower petal drifted out. A receipt followed, and then a small, intricately folded paper crane. It was the same one he'd seen in the bookstore before, and it was making him feel a little nauseous.

He felt a sudden surge of irritation. He pushed the pieces back into the book, his movements jerky. The quiet of the bookstore felt like a mocking presence. He slammed the book shut and left, his heart pounding.