Gemotions

He’d always known, even as a kid, that he had a penchant for making others miserable. Now, the thought of actually facing the consequences of his younger self was causing him to feel… well, something akin to being trapped in a vice. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing the nausea to subside.

The receptionist had called his name. A simple “Mr. Davies?” delivered with a saccharine smile. He had nearly bolted. He felt a desperate urge to run, to disappear, to vanish entirely.

He walked down the hall, each step heavier than the last. The door swung open and there she was, standing in the doorway. Emily, with her too-bright smile, her perfect hair… the girl he’d tormented relentlessly with his cruel words and calculated taunts. He started to stammer, words catching in his throat. His knuckles were white where he gripped the doorknob.