Gemotions

The notification bell, that innocuous chime, felt like a thunderclap. Sarah nearly jumped out of her skin. A friend request. Michael. The boy who made her life a misery in high school. Her throat constricted, making it difficult to breathe. She found herself clutching the edge of the kitchen table, knuckles white.

She paced the small living room, back and forth, the worn rug offering no solace. The walls seemed to close in, the air thick and heavy. She considered calling her best friend, but the thought of forming a coherent sentence seemed impossible.

The screen flickered, casting shadows across the room. She was paralyzed, held in place by an invisible force.