Gemotions

The email notification pinged, a shrill sound in the quiet office. Michael stared at the subject line: “Regarding our History Project.” From Emily Carter. Twenty-five years. He had avoided her like the plague since high school. He felt a prickly sensation crawl up his neck.

He considered deleting it, ignoring it. But curiosity, and something else he couldn't name, gnawed at him. He clicked open the message. Emily's words flowed from the screen. She was sorry, deeply sorry, for the way she'd sabotaged his project, for the blame she'd unfairly placed on him.

He slammed his laptop shut, the sound echoing in the empty office. He found himself pacing. The floor felt unsteady beneath his feet. He felt a phantom pain in his gut. He thought he should run.