Gemotions

He stared at the screen, the cursor blinking mockingly. Liam knew he should just ignore it. Just let the notification disappear into the digital ether. But his hand wouldn’t move. It was Sarah. Sarah Jenkins, the girl who made his life hell in fifth grade.

A wave of nausea washed over him. He felt as if his skin had shrunk, making his clothes suddenly too tight. He ran a hand through his hair, tugging at the strands. He caught his reflection in the dark screen – a stranger, yet still the scared boy she used to torment.

He got up and walked to the window, peering out at the street. The streetlight cast long shadows, making everything seem distorted and threatening. He imagined her, somewhere out there, probably with a perfect life. And he… felt suddenly small.