Gemotions

The friend request from Sarah, the girl who used to call her ‘four eyes,’ sat there, defiant, on the screen. Maya’s heart beat erratically. She felt a lightness in her head, as if she were about to float away. It was a sensation she hadn’t experienced since she was a child.

She closed her laptop with a snap. The sound echoed in the quiet room. Her breath hitched. She went over to the window, staring out at the vibrant green of the park. It was a beautiful day, filled with the sounds of children playing, but she couldn’t find joy in any of it.

She hugged herself, arms wrapping tightly around her body. She imagined the words Sarah might write, the words that could be said, that could still hurt. Then, after a few minutes, she forced herself to breathe deeply, each breath measured and controlled.