Gemotions

The glow of the laptop screen felt like a physical weight on Elias’s eyelids. He rubbed them, a gritty sensation against the delicate skin. It was late; the digital clock in the corner of his screen whispered 1:17 AM. A notification popped up: a friend request. He squinted. The name was instantly recognizable, a phantom ache blooming in his chest. Mark Thompson. The bully. He should just ignore it. But his fingers, heavy and unresponsive, hovered over the accept button.

He yawned, a wide, soundless cavern opening in his face. His chair creaked as he leaned back. The request seemed to pulse with a mocking energy. He imagined Mark, probably also older, probably also changed. Would he be smirking? He dragged his fingers through his hair. Maybe he’d just… deal with it in the morning.

He clicked the ‘ignore’ button instead. The act offered a small, fleeting satisfaction, quickly overtaken by the dull, dragging weight that had settled over him. He fumbled to shut down the computer and stumbled towards his bed.