Gemotions

The notification popped up during her morning coffee, the cheerful chime slicing through the quiet of her apartment. Sarah nearly dropped her mug. Scrolling, she saw the name: Mark Jenkins. He’d been the bane of her existence in middle school. The memory flickered, a montage of stolen lunches and whispered taunts. She felt her stomach tighten, a familiar knot from years ago.

She closed the browser tab, the image of his face – older, a little softer, but still undeniably *him* – burned in her mind. Grabbing her phone, she went to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face. The water didn’t help. The image of the request still lingered. She was late for work, but the thought of facing the day felt suddenly impossible.