Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the art gallery seemed to blur as he spotted her. He recognized the way she moved, the tilt of her head, the easy grace that had always captivated him. He felt it in his chest, a flutter, a frantic dance. He moved towards her, his steps suddenly clumsy.

“Sophia?” he ventured, his voice a little shaky. She turned, her eyes meeting his, and he felt a sharp stab of disappointment. Her expression was neutral, blank.

“Yes?” she replied, her voice soft but unfamiliar. He felt the tension building in his body, a need to fidget, to shift, to escape.

"It's Ethan," he said, his voice barely a whisper. “We… used to build sandcastles by the beach." Her expression didn't change. He gripped his hands into fists.

“I’m sorry, Ethan. I don’t think I know you,” she said, and he felt the air leave his lungs. He felt a pull, a magnetic force that he could not name.