Gemotions

The request from Jessica arrived just as Ben was enjoying a cup of coffee. He choked, spraying coffee across his laptop screen. He wiped his mouth, his hands unsteady. Jessica. The girl who used to torment him in middle school.

His hands began to tingle. He felt his face flush. He remembered the constant put-downs, the isolation, the feeling of being an outsider. He wished he'd never seen the notification. He wished it would all disappear.

The coffee cup felt heavy in his hand. He put it down, his mind racing. He was a successful lawyer now, he had a good life. But the old fear, the feeling of vulnerability, threatened to overwhelm him. He got up and walked to the window, staring out at the street, a picture of everything he used to avoid.