Gemotions

The message was innocuous enough: a friend request from someone named "Jason." But the face, that arrogant, sneering face, was anything but. Liam swallowed hard, a metallic taste suddenly coating his tongue. It was like a nightmare come to life. The past, with all its sting, was here.

He let out a shaky breath, feeling the air thicken around him. He leaned back in his chair, trying to create distance between himself and the screen. He could feel his face flush. He was back in the playground, smaller and helpless.

He felt a deep sense of wrongness. He muted his phone, the silence offering a fragile form of protection. He went to the kitchen, poured a large glass of whiskey, and drank it down without tasting it.