Gemotions

The city felt like a prison, the buildings towering, the streets teeming with uncaring strangers. He walked through the park, watching the children play, feeling a pang of longing for a joy he could no longer reach. He ate without tasting, moved without feeling. Every day was a struggle, every night a torment. He was utterly, completely adrift.

He had made an appointment, a last resort. When he arrived at the office, his stomach twisted with dread. It was Ashley, the girl who had made his school life hell.

"Come in, Alex," she said, her voice calm and measured. The room was neutral, clinical. He felt suddenly vulnerable.

"So," she said, her gaze steady, "Tell me what's been going on." His mouth was dry, his throat tight. He sat, silent, unable to speak.