Gemotions

He watched the notification from his phone screen, a strange hollowness filling his chest. The request was from Kevin, the kid who used to shove him into lockers. He felt a bead of sweat trickle down his temple. He immediately closed the app, and took a deep, involuntary breath. Then he took another.

He glanced at the half-eaten sandwich on his desk. The food suddenly lost all appeal. His hands fidgeted, picking at the edge of the paper napkin. He found himself picking at the corner of the desk.

He started to think about the possible reasons behind the request. Regret? Revenge? Curiosity? He swallowed hard. Each scenario was equally unnerving. He’d meticulously built a life for himself, brick by brick. This felt like a threat to the foundation.