Gemotions

The email arrived like an unexpected storm, a digital deluge from the past. “Mark Evans has requested to connect on LinkedIn.” Daniel let out a soft, involuntary gasp. The knot in his stomach tightened; it felt like something was being squeezed. Mark Evans, the boy who, in Daniel's young mind, embodied all that was powerful and cruel.

He reread the email three times, each reading making his heart pound a little faster. He hadn’t thought of Mark in years, and the thought of connecting professionally, of sharing a virtual space, felt utterly bizarre, unnatural. He clicked the delete button, his hand shaking slightly. The action felt strangely unsatisfying.