Gemotions

The flyer lay on the counter, next to the bills and junk mail. John avoided looking at it. He'd seen it several times throughout the day, catching glimpses of the bold lettering, the photographs of smiling faces. It felt like something heavy, pressing on him.

He walked into the living room and flicked on the television, aimlessly flipping through the channels. He didn’t want to think about the reunion, about the people, about the past. He felt a familiar knot tightening in his stomach, a feeling he hadn’t experienced in years.

He went back to the counter and snatched the flyer, ripping it into tiny pieces. He felt a small measure of relief, quickly followed by a sense of… something else. A quiet sadness.