Gemotions

The familiar scent of vanilla, from a candle he’d lit, filled the air. A friend request. From Kevin, the kid who had made his life a misery. He let out a slow breath. He was surrounded by the artifacts of his present life, but a different time felt nearer. He reached for a worn book on his desk.

He could almost feel the weight of his old backpack, the familiar ache in his shoulders from carrying it around. He remembered the incessant whispers, the feeling of always being on the outside, and it all felt fresh again, raw. The shadows in the room seemed to deepen. He pictured the way his reflection used to look in the lockers, the way he always felt smaller then.

He slowly closed his eyes, recalling specific moments – the sting of a thrown snowball, the bitter taste of defeat. He wondered what Kevin wanted. He thought of his old childhood bedroom. With a sigh, he opened the request and confirmed. He suddenly felt a need for something sweet.