Gemotions

The notification buzzed, a tiny electronic tremor in Emily’s otherwise quiet morning. "Brian Olsen wants to be friends." Emily blinked, then blinked again. The world seemed to tilt on its axis for a moment. She’d finally started to forget. He was a phantom, an echo of a painful past.

She spilled her coffee, the brown liquid staining the pristine white tablecloth. The scent of the coffee, usually a comfort, now felt like an unwelcome intrusion. She quickly dabbed at the spill, her fingers trembling. She felt a knot tighten in her stomach, a familiar sensation she hadn’t experienced in ages.