Gemotions

The email arrived late at night, a single, concise paragraph buried deep within her inbox. Sarah read it, re-read it, and then sat frozen at her desk. The cursor blinked, a rhythmic pulse in the otherwise silent room, each blink mirroring the quickening tempo of her heart.

She’d thought she’d moved on. Built a new life, a new identity. Yet, the words on the screen had an instantaneous effect. She felt like she was back in high school, vulnerable and exposed. She leaned back in her chair, the leather cool against her skin, and looked out the window.

The streetlights blurred through the rain-streaked glass. She should delete it, block the sender. But her fingers remained hovering over the mouse, as if something, some forgotten part of her, was fighting against her. A long and weary sigh escaped her.