Gemotions

The email arrived mid-morning, nestled amongst the usual spam and appointment reminders. A friend request from Kevin Davies. Her breath caught in her chest, a quick, shallow intake. The playground taunts, the shoved shoulders, the whispered insults. It all flooded back, vivid and sharp.

She carefully set her coffee mug down on the desk. The ceramic was warm beneath her fingertips. She then leaned back into her chair, the leather creaking slightly. The sun was shining. The birds were singing. She’d always found peace in the morning.

After a long while, she opened the email. The notification was still there. She read the email. Nothing urgent. She closed the email. It could wait for later. She'd get back to it.