Gemotions

The hum of the coffee machine did nothing to soothe Maria's frayed nerves. The barista, even with her forced cheerfulness, felt like an irritant. The friend request on her phone was the final straw. It was from Brian, the boy who had made high school a living hell.

She wanted to scream. The caffeine began to taste like acid. It was as though all the unpleasantness of life had focused on one little blue button.

She took a deep breath, trying to regain control. The memory of Brian’s cruelty still burned.