Gemotions

He kept adjusting his tie, a gesture he hadn’t been able to stop since pulling into the parking lot. His palms were slick, and he wiped them surreptitiously on his trousers as he approached the building. The sign read "Serenity Wellness Center." He took a deep breath, the air oddly heavy and thick. He felt a profound sense of unease.

The receptionist greeted him with a practiced smile. "Mr. Davies?"

“Yes,” he croaked, his voice sounding unfamiliar.

He felt a sudden reluctance to walk the short path to the office. The thought of confronting his past, the person who made his childhood a constant battleground, filled him with dread. He imagined he could still feel the stinging humiliation of those playground taunts.