Gemotions

The email arrived, plain and unassuming, with the subject line "Catching Up." From Kevin O’Connell. It took a moment for the name to register. Then, the realization hit. Thomas’s stomach lurched. He felt a sudden, intense heat flush his face. He’d never forget the constant taunts, the petty cruelty, the way Kevin always made him feel worthless.

He clicked on the email, his cursor trembling. Inside, a generic message about how Kevin was "doing great" and "would love to reconnect." Thomas gritted his teeth, the muscles in his jaw aching. He slammed the laptop shut, the sudden darkness a physical manifestation of his internal state.

He felt the need to destroy something. He grabbed the closest object, a stack of mail, and ripped it apart, scattering the pieces across the desk. He wouldn't let him get away with it. This time it was different.