Gemotions

The friend request popped up during a late-night work session, a digital intruder in his carefully constructed online world. "Kevin O'Malley" The name was a brand on his soul. He took a sharp breath, his fingers tightening on the mouse.

He scrutinized the profile: a self-congratulatory image. A list of accomplishments. The carefully curated veneer of success. He felt his jaw clench.

He saw the reasons, the need for approval, the desperate attempt to rewrite history. He saw the emptiness of Kevin's life, the shallow and pathetic attempt to make amends. He felt a burning sensation in his stomach.

He considered the possibilities. He wanted to hurt, to diminish, to destroy. The urge for vengeance was a physical ache. A quick denial? A withering message?

He deleted the request, the action swift and decisive. He felt nothing but a lingering sense of profound disappointment.