Gemotions

The notification popped up on Liam's phone: "Your diary has been trending." He swiped it away, pretending it didn't matter, but his heart hammered in his chest. He was sitting at a crowded coffee shop, surrounded by chattering voices and the clinking of cups, yet he felt utterly alone.

He glanced around, suddenly acutely aware of every eye, every whisper. He imagined them all knowing his secrets, laughing at his teenage dreams. He took a sip of his coffee, the bitter taste doing nothing to soothe the tremor in his hands.

He'd spent years trying to build a new identity, to escape the shadows of his past. Now, it was all being dragged back into the light. He felt a wave of nausea, a sickening sense of being completely exposed. He wanted to run, to disappear into the anonymity of the city.

The barista called out his name, but he couldn't quite bring himself to answer. He felt frozen, incapable of action.