Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows, mirroring the frantic hammering in Leo’s chest. He pulled the curtains tighter, as if he could shut out the world. The package, addressed to "Ms. Evelyn Reed," sat on the kitchen counter, a stranger in his already unsettling new home. He kept circling it, unable to decide what to do. His hands felt clammy.

He’d barely slept since moving in, jumping at every noise. The old house seemed to hold its breath, waiting. He considered throwing the box away, but the thought of confrontation, of having to interact with anyone, sent a wave of nausea through him. He sank into a chair, his shoulders hunched. The dripping of the rain was starting to get to him.