Gemotions

The embossed invitation felt heavy in Elias’s hand, like a loaded weapon. He flipped it over and over, the gold lettering glinting in the dim light of his apartment. Why now? Twenty years. A lifetime. And suddenly, a reunion? He ran a hand through his thinning hair. Something about this didn’t sit right.

He re-read the names of the organizing committee. Brenda Miller, head cheerleader and his nemesis, was at the top. His jaw tightened. He hadn't seen Brenda since graduation, and the thought of facing her, of all people, made his stomach churn. He considered tossing the invitation into the trash, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. It was like a dare.

A prickle of heat crawled up his neck. He grabbed his phone and scrolled through his contacts, finding several old classmates. The impulse to text them, to gauge their reactions, was almost overwhelming.