Gemotions

“It wasn't me, okay?” Ben practically choked on the words, his voice raspy. He stared across the coffee table at his best friend, Liam, who held his phone up, a screenshot of his diary entries displayed.

He’d written everything down, every embarrassing confession, every secret desire, every instance of self-doubt. He hated the way Liam was looking at him, a mixture of amusement and pity in his eyes. He felt a burning sensation in his throat, a need to defend himself against something he couldn’t fight.

He looked away, unable to meet Liam’s gaze. The air in the room felt thick, filled with an unspoken tension. He felt a heavy weight pressing down on his chest.