Gemotions

The moment the email landed in Daniel's inbox, a cold sweat broke out. He hadn't spoken to anyone from high school in a decade. He crumpled the digital invitation, the phantom sound of paper crinkling in his ears.

He glanced around his tiny studio apartment, at the peeling paint and the stacks of unwashed dishes. He'd envisioned a different life. Success. Recognition. Anything other than this monotonous existence.

He considered deleting the email, pretending he hadn't seen it. The idea of facing his peers, of being judged and measured against their accomplishments, felt like a physical assault. He'd just go back to bed. The day was already ruined.