Gemotions

The silence felt thick, almost tangible, in the small office. He found himself unable to meet her gaze, instead focusing on the meticulous arrangement of pens in a cup on the desk. He flexed his hands. The air felt heavy, charged with something unspoken, something… volatile.

The memory of the playground, the taunts, the petty cruelties, flooded back, each one a tiny shard of glass, now somehow sharpened. He realized he was clenching his jaw, fighting to keep the tremors in his body under control. This was his chance to break down the walls, to find a way forward.

“So… you feel like you are still… burdened, by past experiences?” The calm voice, the same calm voice that had once delighted in his misery. The irony hit him with a jolt. He laughed, a short, sharp bark that echoed in the stillness.