Gemotions

"Sarah Walker," the notification blared, right in the middle of her favorite TV show. Her stomach twisted slightly. It was from Jessica Miller, the girl who had made Sarah's middle school years a living hell. She paused the show, the bright colors of the screen momentarily fading.

The living room felt warm, cozy, the scent of lavender from her diffuser filling the air. She remembered the cruel whispers, the exclusion, the constant feeling of inadequacy. Sarah hugged herself.

She got up and walked over to the window, the city lights twinkling in the distance. The fear had long since dissipated, but the residual sting of the past remained. She noticed her reflection in the glass, a woman who had weathered many storms. A wave of fondness for that young girl she once was, mixed with tenderness, surged through her. She felt like maybe she could meet that face.