Gemotions

He stared at the map on his phone, the red line tracing the distance between them. Across the country. Across… everything. A jolt, like a tiny spark, ignited in his chest. “So… you’re really doing it, huh?” he managed, his voice a little rougher than usual. The café was suddenly stifling.

Ethan, his best friend, just grinned, oblivious. Ethan's enthusiasm was infectious, and normally he would find the good vibes comforting. Right now, it felt like a direct assault on the senses. He shifted in his seat, his jeans constricting. He watched Ethan's hands, gesturing wildly.

He took a large gulp of his iced coffee, the cold doing little to cool the sudden warmth spreading through his limbs. The thought of all the things they wouldn't do together anymore, all the inside jokes that would fade, hit him with a strange intensity. He wanted to reach across the table, to grab Ethan's hand and just... hold it.