Gemotions

The social media alert seemed to thrum with a sinister energy. It was from Brian, the leader of a group of kids who'd made a game of tormenting him. He’d spent years trying to forget the humiliation.

He lived in a small, cramped studio apartment, filled with stacks of old newspapers he kept, just in case. He was perpetually broke. He'd been fired from multiple jobs. His life was a series of missed opportunities and quiet failures.

He felt a compulsion to respond, to acknowledge the message. He knew he'd do it. He didn't know why, but he knew he would. It was as if he was waiting for a signal, a directive, from someone, anyone, to tell him what to do next.