Gemotions

The notification buzzed, a tiny vibration against Amelia's palm. It was a friend request. From Brad. Brad, the boy who used to trip her in the hallways and hide her lunch money. She hadn't seen him in twenty years. A wave of heat flushed her cheeks. She almost immediately clicked the delete button, but paused, her finger hovering.

She closed her eyes, remembering the stinging humiliation, the choked back tears. The thought of confronting him again filled her with a familiar dread, a hollowness in her stomach.

Her thumb finally moved, tapping on the profile picture. He looked older, his hair thinner, a few laugh lines etched around his eyes. He had kids now, it seemed. Amelia sighed, the air catching in her throat, a little ache there. She just wanted to be done with it.