Gemotions

The request from Brad Reynolds appeared on his screen, and Mark's vision blurred. He felt a tightening in his throat. He crushed the empty water bottle on his desk, the sound echoing in the otherwise quiet office. It was a physical manifestation of his reaction.

He hadn't thought about Brad in years, but now the memories flooded back: the constant teasing, the deliberate cruelty. He remembered the feeling of helplessness, the isolation. He felt a knot in his stomach, a cold dread.

He glared at the friend request, his jaw working. He wanted to lash out, to scream, to… something. He got up and began pacing his small office, unable to sit still. This was a violation, an invasion of the peace he had carved out for himself.