Gemotions

The waiting room smelled faintly of lavender and old books. Sarah took a deep breath, the scent doing something soothing to the frayed edges of her nerves. Sunlight streamed through the large window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. She’d been dreading this appointment, anticipating awkwardness, but a lightness had settled over her, starting the moment she’d stepped inside.

She smoothed the fabric of her skirt, noticing how easily her fingers moved, unhindered by tension. Her appointment with Dr. Mark Reynolds was about to start. Mark Reynolds? Her childhood tormentor, the kid who used to steal her lunch money and call her names? Life, she thought wryly, was a funny game.

When the door opened, Mark’s face, softened by years and the professional environment, broke into a welcoming smile. She smiled back, feeling a genuine warmth bloom in her chest. The session, she realized, might not be as terrible as she had imagined.