Gemotions

David stared at the phone, his coffee growing cold. The screen's glow illuminated the shadows under his eyes. He felt a pressure in his chest, a subtle squeezing sensation. The name, Jason Riley, triggered a flood of memories he’d buried long ago.

He tossed the phone onto the couch, then paced the small living room. The floorboards creaked under his weight. He kept catching his reflection in the window, his expression tight, like someone had pulled a wire too taut. Why now? Why after all this time?

He went to the kitchen and made another coffee, even though the first was barely touched. He needed something to do, something to focus on besides that blinking notification. He stood by the window, staring at the street, a strange unease crawling over him. He couldn’t shake the image of Jason’s smirk.