Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, a relentless drumming that mirrored the frantic beat inside Leo’s head. The package, addressed to "Ms. Evelyn Reed," sat on his coffee table, a bulky silhouette in the dim light. He hadn't expected anything, and certainly not something meant for whoever had lived here before him.

He circled it, not touching it. An irrational fear kept him at bay. He knew he should just throw it out, but he couldn't. He ran a hand through his already messy hair, a coldness spreading through his limbs. The silence of the apartment seemed to press in on him, amplified by the storm outside.

He imagined the previous tenant, Evelyn Reed, their life, their belongings, now a phantom in the echoing space. He went to the window, peering out into the downpour, feeling a sudden, visceral disconnect from his own reality.