Gemotions

He had been enjoying a rare moment of peace, sitting on his porch swing, the late afternoon sun warm on his face. Then, the notification. The name, Ryan Miller, brought a chill that defied the weather. Alex felt the world tilt a little.

He stood abruptly, the swing creaking to a halt. He walked inside, away from the idyllic scene he had been enjoying. His appetite vanished. He found himself picking at the food on his plate. He skipped dinner altogether.

He tried to distract himself by watching TV, but the images blurred. His thoughts kept returning to the request, replaying every insult, every taunt. He felt a desperate need to avoid the past, but it had suddenly reappeared, uninvited.