Gemotions

The news story, which she’d initially dismissed as clickbait, featured a picture of her younger self. Her breath caught. The accompanying text, a collection of her most embarrassing quotes, felt like a physical assault.

She imagined the smirks, the knowing glances. The people who would recognize her, who would now have this ammunition to wield. A flicker of anger flared within her, quickly extinguished by a familiar weariness.

She pushed back from her desk, the chair scraping against the floor. She needed some air. She needed to escape this, even for a little while. Her hand went to her coat.