Gemotions

The words hung in the air, thick and heavy. Liam stared, his coffee mug frozen halfway to his mouth. Across the tiny kitchen table, Maya’s usual effervescence had dimmed, replaced by a nervous fidgeting with her chipped nail polish. "Across the country?" he finally managed, his voice sounding thin, almost reedy. The implication slammed into him, a physical blow that stole his breath. He felt his face flush, the blood roaring in his ears.

He’d known Maya for fifteen years. They were inseparable. Coffee every morning, movie nights every weekend. He wasn't sure how he would function without her constant presence. He thought his world was perfect. He thought their world was perfect.

“Yeah,” Maya said quietly, her eyes dropping to the table. “Dad got a job in Seattle.”