Gemotions

Rain pattered against the windowpane, mirroring the soft rhythm of Liam's breathing. He sat on the worn couch, a blanket pulled up to his chin. The Facebook notification, a small, vibrant blue icon, blared against the gray-scale of his laptop screen. It was Mark Henderson, the boy who used to trip him in the school hallways.

His stomach felt hollow, like a deflated balloon. He scrolled through Mark’s profile, a cascade of smiling faces and happy events. He saw Mark, looking older, but still vaguely familiar. A flicker of something, something akin to curiosity, flitted across his mind.

With a click, the request was accepted. The world outside the window seemed a little less menacing, and he felt his shoulders slump slightly, almost unconsciously.