Gemotions

The email arrived at 3:17 AM. Sarah hadn't slept well in weeks. She stared at the screen, the harsh blue light washing over her face, highlighting the dark circles beneath her eyes. Her fingers trembled as she clicked the link. A blog, plastered with the cover of a bright pink, glitter-covered notebook. Her junior high diary. A wave of nausea rolled through her, a physical manifestation of a feeling she couldn't quite name.

She scrolled through the posts, each entry a knife twist. Her thirteen-year-old self, raw, vulnerable, spilling out secrets about crushes, insecurities, and the crushing weight of adolescence. The comments section was a mess of snide remarks and laughter emojis. She took a deep breath, the air catching in her throat, a choked sob threatening to erupt.

Sarah reached for her phone, intending to call her best friend, but her hand stalled mid-air. She couldn't bring herself to burden anyone else. Instead, she curled up on the couch, the laptop's glow reflecting in her tear-filled eyes, and wished she could rewind time.