Gemotions

The invitation felt heavy, like a lead weight in his hand. Peter stared at the familiar faces, the names, the promises of camaraderie. He felt a deep, instinctive distrust. His fingers tightened into fists.

He canceled all his plans. He began to clean his apartment with a ferocious energy, scrubbing away every speck of dirt, as if he could erase the past. He moved with a constant low hum of internal tension.

He spent the evening scrolling through social media, researching profiles of classmates, searching for any hint of ill will or hidden agendas. He was preparing for a battle.