Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the storm brewing inside Maya. Liam, her Liam, sat across from her, scrolling through his phone. He looked up, his brow furrowing as if trying to place her. “You… you look familiar. Have we met?” The words hit her like a physical blow. She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat making speech difficult. Her hand flew to her chest, clutching at the thin fabric of her blouse.

“Liam, it’s… Maya. Maya Carter. From the summer of ‘98? We built that awful treehouse in your backyard, remember?” She could barely force the words out, her voice a reedy whisper. He blinked, confusion clouding his features.

“Carter? Nope. Doesn’t ring a bell. Sorry.” He offered a small, apologetic shrug, then returned his focus to the glowing screen. The world tilted on its axis. He didn't remember the scraped knees, the whispered secrets under the stars, the shared ice cream cones. She felt a cold dread creep into her stomach.