Gemotions

The office felt stifling. Liam avoided eye contact with anyone, a knot of unease tightening in his stomach with every passing glance. He'd seen the social media posts, the comments; everyone was talking about it. His old diary, filled with teenage angst and clumsy declarations of love, had gone viral.

He retreated to the break room, the harsh fluorescent lights amplifying his discomfort. He couldn't eat. He ran the water over his hands repeatedly, scrubbing as if he could wash away the stain of exposure. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes, a precursor to tears. He pressed his palms against his face, trying to still the tremors that ran through his body.