Gemotions

The elevator ride felt like an eternity. Michael clenched and unclenched his fists as he ascended. The air thickened with each floor, the pressure mounting in his ears. He was scheduled for a consultation with Dr. David Olsen. He recognized the name, but then he saw the photograph on the door. It *was* David Olsen, the bully from his childhood.

His heart hammered against his ribs. He felt a sudden, desperate urge to flee, to escape the suffocating feeling that had taken hold. He felt weak, exposed.

He pictured the way David used to tower over him, the sneer on his face, the taunts echoing in his ears. The door handle felt like a hot branding iron as he reached for it. He took a shaky breath, whispering under his breath, “Just breathe.”