Gemotions

The bright sunshine outside the coffee shop seemed harsh, almost aggressive. The woman, whose name was Jessica, was describing a weekend spent at a mountain lodge. The details – the hiking trails, the cozy fireplace, the shared bottle of wine – matched perfectly with the memory of *his* words. Alex felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of being disconnected from reality. His stomach lurched, and he felt as if the world had been turned upside down. His hands were clammy. “And… did he… did he bring you that book?” he asked, his voice barely audible, his eyes fixed on the ceramic tabletop. She nodded and smiled.