Gemotions

“No. Absolutely not,” I muttered to myself, staring at the friend request. The picture of Richard, grinning and holding up a beer, sparked an almost physical reaction. My vision blurred for a moment.

I felt my cheeks flush, a creeping heat spreading down my neck. I felt a sudden urge to break something. The memories, sharp and painful, returned with relentless clarity. The humiliation. The fear. The years of torment.

I stood up abruptly, knocking over the chair. The sudden noise startled me. I was shaking. How dare he? How *dare* he think he could just waltz back into my life like nothing had happened?