Gemotions

The email notification pinged, and Maya nearly jumped out of her skin. It was from Liam, her best friend, the subject line reading simply "Big News." Her fingers fumbled as she clicked it open, a sudden heat flushing her cheeks. The words blurred at first, but the gist became clear: Liam was moving to California. A wave of… something… washed over her. She reread the words, and a pulse began to throb low in her belly.

She swiveled in her chair, the sudden movement causing her jeans to tighten uncomfortably. Liam’s email went on to detail his new job, his new apartment. She pictured him, animated, telling her all this in person. She bit down on her lip, a tingling sensation spreading down her spine. The imagined conversation, his voice, the way he would lean in close when he got excited.

She needed air. Rising abruptly, she grabbed her keys and practically sprinted towards the door. The sun felt extraordinarily bright, the world suddenly charged with a vibrant intensity.