Gemotions

The cafe air, usually a comforting embrace of coffee and pastries, felt thick and suffocating. Clara watched Leo across the small table, his brow furrowed as he scanned her face, a polite smile plastered on his lips. "So, you're… Sarah?" he asked, his voice hesitant, as if testing the name on his tongue. She nodded, her throat suddenly tight. This was supposed to be a joyous reunion, a celebration of shared history. Now, with the blankness in his eyes, it felt more like an interrogation. She picked at the paper straw in her iced latte, her fingers clumsy and fidgety. "You don't… remember anything?" she managed, her voice barely a whisper.

He chuckled, a short, clipped sound. "Should I? I get so many people who recognize me from my soccer days, it’s honestly hard to keep track." A flush crept up her neck, spreading quickly. She wanted to vanish, to sink into the worn wooden floorboards. The vibrant paintings on the wall suddenly felt gaudy, mocking her silent humiliation.