Gemotions

A wave of heat washed over Liam as he tore open the envelope, the crisp paper a stark contrast to the clammy feeling in his palms. His heart hammered a frantic rhythm against his ribs. The reunion! He hadn’t thought about it in years.

He tossed the invitation onto his cluttered desk, and immediately wanted to retrieve it, to hide it. His breath came in shallow, uneven gasps. The thought of that night, of the forced smiles and the inevitable comparisons, made his skin crawl.

He ran a hand through his thinning hair, a nervous gesture he hadn't realized he still employed. It was the same gesture he'd made when he was in trouble back in high school. The silence in his cramped office felt deafening, amplifying the sudden, overwhelming sensation of dread.