Gemotions

“Another one,” Mark muttered, his voice a low rasp. He’d been fielding these for a week. Childhood bullies, all of them, crawling out of the woodwork on social media. Each one a fresh reminder of the years he'd spent feeling small and insignificant. This one was Brenda. He recognized the name instantly. He barely had the strength to check, but his fingers did it anyway.

He felt leaden, every joint protesting the simple movement of swiping through her profile. The photos showed a happy life, a life free of the daily dread he’d endured. A life he hadn’t had. He felt hollowed out, a shell of himself. He considered ignoring it, deleting the request, but his hand hovered over the accept button. He wanted to know, to see, but his body just wouldn't co-operate. He just stared.