Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mimicking the frantic drumming in Elias’s chest. He hadn’t slept properly in days. The bills were piling up, the landlord was getting antsy, and the job interview he'd pinned his hopes on had gone south. He dragged himself to the mailbox, his shoulders slumped like a wilted flower. Inside, amidst the usual junk mail, was a card. A birthday card. Unsigned.

He held it up to the dim light. The cover depicted a cartoon cat wearing a party hat. He hadn’t celebrated his birthday in years. It felt…odd. A faint floral scent wafted from the card. He almost didn't open it.

Opening the card felt like an act of defiance against the crushing weight of his life. Inside, simple lettering read, “Wishing you a day filled with joy." Elias stared at the words, a knot forming in his throat. He crumpled the card in his fist, then, with a sigh, smoothed it out again. He felt a sliver of something he couldn't name.