Gemotions

He had been avoiding his phone all morning, the silence a welcome companion. Then, the buzz. It was a friend request from Jessica Bellweather. He remembered the name instantly. In high school, Jessica had made his life a misery. He ran a hand through his already messy hair and sat there, frozen.

The world seemed to have lost its color. The sunlight streaming through his window appeared dull, the sounds of traffic outside muted and distant. He’d barely eaten anything all day, just pacing the length of his living room.

He remembered her smile, the way she would look at him with a mixture of disdain and amusement. Now, years later, she wanted to be his friend. The irony of it all felt like a physical blow, a dull ache in his chest that refused to dissipate. He wanted to scream.