Gemotions

The steam from the coffee mug curled around Sarah’s face, a hazy mist that mirrored the fog in her thoughts. A friend request. From Emily. Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the ceramic. She remembered the whispered insults, the stolen lunches, the isolation.

She pushed back from the table, scraping her chair against the wooden floor. She needed to walk. She needed to burn off the tension that was coiled tight in her shoulders. She grabbed her coat, the heavy wool feeling like a burden. The air outside was crisp, but it didn't help. She was still trapped.

She considered turning around. She had to respond.