Gemotions

The notification popped up: "Mark Harrison sent you a friend request." Sarah’s breath hitched. Mark. From the way back. The one who'd tripped her in the cafeteria, stole her favorite pen, and called her names she still remembered. She stared at the screen, her thumb hovering over the "confirm" button.

A knot formed in her stomach. Why now? What did he want? She glanced at the photo: a smiling Mark, standing next to a sleek, modern car, clearly well-off. She pictured herself, hunched over her laptop at her cramped kitchen table, and felt a flush creep up her neck.

She closed the browser, the unread notification burning in her peripheral vision. She slammed the laptop shut and grabbed her car keys. She needed to buy a new dress, something stylish, something that screamed, "Look at me!"