Gemotions

Liam drummed his fingers on the sterile surface of the reception desk, the persistent rhythm a counterpoint to the thudding in his head. His job was going nowhere, his relationship was circling the drain, and his apartment felt more like a cage than a home. He’d signed up for therapy as a last resort, desperate to find some semblance of peace.

He glanced at the therapist’s name on the intake form: "Dr. Ethan Bellweather." The name didn't ring a bell. He was ushered into a bright, airy office. The man behind the desk was tall, with a reassuringly calm demeanor. Then, a smile, a flash of recognition. "Liam? Wow. It’s been a while." Ethan Bellweather, the kid who’d terrorized him throughout middle school, was now a psychologist. Liam felt a flush of heat rise in his cheeks.