Gemotions

The flickering neon sign of the all-night diner cast a sickly green glow on Amelia’s face. She compulsively tapped her chipped fingernails against the greasy countertop, the rhythmic sound mirroring the frantic beat of her heart. Across from her, the empty coffee cup mocked her need for caffeine. She needed *something*. The notification on her phone, a friend request from Mark Jenkins, the bane of her childhood, felt like a lifeline. Or, perhaps, a noose.

She swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry. He’d humiliated her, relentlessly, for years. Now, years later, he was reaching out. What could he possibly want? She reached for her phone, her fingers trembling as she clicked on the profile picture. He looked…older. Lines etched around his eyes. He looked, dare she say, as if life had been unkind. Maybe this was an opening.

"Another coffee, hun?" The waitress's voice cut through her thoughts. Amelia shook her head, unable to meet the woman’s gaze. She needed to disappear. She needed to get away. She needed to know. She accepted the friend request.