Gemotions

The cold, unforgiving rain mirrored the chill that had settled deep within Leo. He hunched further into the threadbare coat, ignoring the icy water seeping through his worn shoes. His stomach rumbled; he hadn’t eaten in nearly twenty-four hours. His savings account was empty. The world had turned its back on him. He had nothing left. A notification blinked on his cracked phone screen: a friend request from Kevin, the boy who'd tormented him mercilessly in middle school.

His jaw clenched. Kevin. The name was a venomous barb in his memory. Yet, alongside the resentment, a tiny, almost imperceptible whisper of something else stirred. Maybe he could exploit it. He needed help. He had to eat. He swallowed, the lump in his throat making it hard to breathe. He clicked "Accept," his finger hovering for a moment before committing. He was ready to be whatever Kevin wanted him to be.