Gemotions

The notification popped up on her phone during a work meeting. Emily’s breath hitched in her chest. Her old diary. Online. She excused herself, saying she had to go to the restroom, her voice wavering. She couldn't breathe.

She found a stall and leaned against the cold tile, the phone clutched in her trembling hands. The website was a poorly designed mess, but the words were unmistakable. Her words. She saw her childhood insecurities laid bare. A wave of sorrow, like cold water, washed over her, and she felt the sting behind her eyes.

Emily bit her lip, the taste of metal filling her mouth. She couldn't imagine how she could face anyone, given what was now public. She wanted to call her mother, but she feared her voice would crack. Instead, she took a shaky breath, and felt the weight of her younger self’s pain settle into her own chest.