Gemotions

The request popped up during a meeting. The presenter's droning voice faded as David's focus narrowed on the tiny notification: "Emily Carter sent you a friend request." His heart hammered against his ribs. He felt a sudden, profound disconnect from the room, from the spreadsheet in front of him, from everything.

His palms were slick. He surreptitiously slid his phone under the table. His fingers fumbled as he attempted to turn the screen off. He was trying to act as though he hadn't seen the request, but he was failing. He cleared his throat, but his voice was gone.

The meeting adjourned, and David slipped out unnoticed. He took a long walk in the brisk air, each step heavy, as though he was pulling a very large, invisible weight. He couldn't shake the feeling of something crawling beneath his skin.