Gemotions

"You're *what*?" Liam's voice cracked, the words catching in his throat. He sat frozen, his fingers twisting the frayed edge of the napkin at their table. The bustling energy of the coffee shop seemed to fade, becoming a dull hum around them. Across from him, Maya, his best friend, was detailing her upcoming move.

His stomach clenched. He didn't want to hear anymore. The room felt suddenly too small, too close. He wanted to shout, to object, to rewind the conversation back to before she said those words, but he couldn't. He couldn't move.

He imagined the empty space where she would be, the missed phone calls, the quiet evenings. His chest felt tight, constricted. He leaned back in his chair, trying to create distance between them, but the space didn’t help.