Gemotions

The notification blinked on Elias's screen: a friend request from "Brad Thompson." Brad Thompson. The name slammed into Elias, bringing with it a tide of uncomfortable memories. He scrolled through Brad's profile - a family photo, a picture of a dog, and a series of generic inspirational quotes. He considered ignoring it, deleting the request. Instead, he felt a strange pressure in his chest, a heaviness. He clicked "Accept."

He wondered what Brad was like now. Was he still the same, swaggering brute from the playground? Or had life reshaped him too? Elias found himself typing a brief, "Hey Brad, long time no see." He waited, a knot of something unidentifiable tightening in his stomach.