Gemotions

A wave of exhaustion washed over Amelia as she stared at the friend request. The overhead light seemed to buzz louder, brighter, and the image of Chad – a man she’d spent years actively avoiding – felt blurred and distorted. Her head lolled slightly to the side, the muscles in her neck protesting. She wanted to sink down into her chair, to close her eyes for just a moment.

The name, etched in the familiar font, was like a physical blow. Her stomach clenched. A low, guttural sound escaped her, half sigh, half groan. She remembered the taunts, the shoved lunches, the constant fear. It had been decades, hadn’t it? She could almost feel the weight of her backpack on her shoulders again, dragging her down.

She massaged her temples, the dull ache intensifying. She really shouldn’t be thinking about this right now, especially not when she had that report due first thing. With a Herculean effort, she clicked ‘ignore’. The click echoed in the otherwise silent room. She needed a nap.