Gemotions

The mailman had been gone for hours, but Leo still felt the lingering presence of someone watching. He flipped the card over and over in his hands, examining the heavy, cream-colored paper. It was out of place amongst the bills and junk mail. A strange tightening in his chest made it hard to swallow.

He ripped the card open, half expecting to find something truly awful inside. The words were bland, generic. “Happy Birthday!” it declared in a swirling, feminine script. He knew no one who wrote like that. He ran a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realized he was making until the action was complete.

He went to the window and looked out at the street. The street seemed different. Too quiet. A car idled at the curb across the street for an uncomfortably long moment. He backed away from the window, a prickling sensation crawling over his skin. He needed to get out of the house.