Gemotions

The invitation was tucked inside a bill from the electric company. John almost threw it away without a second glance. It was an unwelcome intrusion into his carefully constructed, quiet life. But, something made him stop. He pulled the invitation from the pile of mail. The familiar logo and the bold font of the high school name made him pause. He'd been expecting this, of course, but that didn't make it any easier. He had wanted to avoid this.

He sat at his kitchen table, the envelope in his hand. Then, he smiled. A gentle, genuine smile.

He let out a long breath, and the tension that had been coiled in his chest loosened. He felt a lightness he hadn't experienced in weeks. He thought of his old friends, the jokes, the shared experiences. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.