Gemotions

"Margaret wishes to connect." The words felt like a physical blow. James's hands, usually steady, trembled as he stared at the screen. Margaret, who had made him the target of her cruel jokes back in school. It had been decades, but the memory was as fresh as a wound.

He wanted to scream. He wanted to break something. His breath caught in his throat.

He leaned back in his chair, trying to compose himself. He glanced at the framed photos on his desk. His wife, his children, their smiling faces. He needed to think of them, to ground himself in the present.

He stood up, heading to the window to breathe in the fresh air. The world outside looked so bright and easy.