Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the waiting room cast an unsettling glow. He kept running his hands through his hair, the gesture a nervous tic. He felt a persistent flutter in his chest, a feeling he hadn't experienced since high school. The receptionist's announcement, "Mr. Harrison, Dr. Carter is ready to see you," felt like a sentence.

He rose to his feet, feeling as if the floor beneath him was shifting. He forced himself to walk down the hallway. He knew that face. That predatory, calculating gaze. It had haunted his nightmares for years.

The door swung open, and there she was, a picture of polished serenity. Sarah, the queen bee, who had enjoyed making his life a misery. He could feel sweat trickling down his spine. His mouth felt dry, and his eyes burned.