Gemotions

The elevator ascended, each floor a ticking countdown to a terrifying reality. The elevator doors opened onto a brightly lit corridor, and the nameplate on the door read: "Alexander Thorne, MSW, LCSW." He felt like his blood had turned to ice. *Alexander Thorne*. The bully from his high school. The one who made his life miserable.

His fingers felt numb as he reached out to knock. He felt the blood drain from his face.

The door swung open, and Alexander stood there, smiling. “Ah, Kevin! Come in, come in. I’m glad you could make it.” His voice was soothing, the complete opposite of the way he'd yelled at him in the halls. Kevin felt a strange, detached sensation, as if he were observing himself from a distance.

"Alexander?" he rasped, the word barely a sound.