Gemotions

He saw the notification on his Twitter feed: "Check out this great example essay!" David’s stomach lurched. His heart began to pound against his ribs, a wild, frantic rhythm. He recognized the headline: "Navigating Grief: A College Essay." The accompanying picture was a smiling face that was not his.

He quickly clicked on the link, his fingers clumsy on the trackpad. The essay, his private reflections on his brother's death, was there. He felt a jolt of shock, a physical blow to his solar plexus. The words he had written in secrecy were now a public spectacle.

David slammed his laptop shut, the sudden darkness a small comfort. He sat in the chair, rigid, his back pressed against the wood. The feeling was overpowering, a sense of being utterly stripped bare. He closed his eyes and began to breathe slowly, trying to regain control.