Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed through the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. John leaned back in his comfortable chair, the worn leather creaking softly. He was enjoying a long overdue afternoon playing solitaire, the repetitive shuffle of the cards a soothing rhythm. The city sounds outside seemed distant and muted.

A notification popped up on his computer screen, a link posted to his old high school's alumni Facebook group. The title of the shared blog post caught his eye: "Teenage Angst: The Unfiltered Truth."

He clicked the link, a knot forming in his stomach. The first paragraph confirmed his worst fears. Passages from his diary, words he thought were locked away forever, stared back at him. He abruptly dropped the cards.