Gemotions

He ran a hand through his thinning hair, the strands catching on the stubble on his jaw. The fluorescent lights of his dingy apartment hummed, amplifying the silence that had become his constant companion. The rent was overdue. The bills were piling up. He’d lost his job. He was alone. The ping of the notification was a jolt of electricity.

It was from Lisa, the girl who used to cry in the school bathroom after he'd tripped her on the playground. Now, she was offering him…a connection? He stared at the screen, his breath catching in his chest. A flicker of hope ignited. He’d burned every bridge, driven everyone away. Maybe…maybe this was a chance.

He quickly clicked 'Accept'. His vision blurred and he needed to sit down, unable to comprehend the simple act. A wave of nausea washed over him as he wondered what would come next. He grabbed his head and closed his eyes.