Gemotions

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. The sender: Kevin “The Bruiser” Bartlett. His heart rate spiked. He could almost feel the phantom sting of Kevin's hand against his cheek.

He let out a short, sharp laugh, a sound that held no amusement. The audacity! He'd spent his adult life trying to forget him, to leave those wretched memories behind.

He deleted the email without a second thought, then went into his kitchen and washed his hands, scrubbing as if he could wash away the stain of Kevin's name from his skin. The faucet's rush of water was the only sound.