Gemotions

The phone vibrated on the kitchen table. It was an email notification. Mark checked the sender’s address, his fingers suddenly stiff. It was from Emily, the girl who had disappeared from his life. He felt a tightening in his chest, a sensation akin to being squeezed in a vise. He didn’t want to read it. He really, really didn’t.

He grabbed a bottle of water and chugged half of it, feeling his hands shake as he did. He clicked on the email. He wanted to delete it. He told himself he would. But then, curiosity, or perhaps something darker, pulled him forward. He started to read.