Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the storm brewing inside Arthur. He hunched over his lukewarm latte, the steam doing little to warm his chilled bones. His jaw was tight, his gaze fixed on the swirling foam, as if the secret to happiness lay hidden within. He’d arrived here a half-hour early, hoping to compose himself before the session. He felt like his chest was weighed down with lead.

He was supposed to be seeing a therapist. He hadn't wanted to, but the doctor had insisted. His friend, Sarah, had recommended him, saying the woman had helped her with her anxiety. The irony of it all, though, was that his therapist was none other than Brenda, the girl who had made his school life a living misery.

Arthur gripped the edge of the table so hard his knuckles turned white. He could still hear Brenda's cruel laughter echoing in his ears, and the taunts she had hurled his way. He wasn't sure he could face her.