Gemotions

The late afternoon sun warmed Maya's face as she strolled through the park, a half-eaten ice cream cone dangling from her hand. Birds chirped overhead, and the scent of freshly cut grass filled the air. She hummed along to the tune playing from her earbuds, a carefree smile plastered across her face. Nothing could spoil this perfect day, she thought, watching children chase pigeons.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced down, expecting a text from Liam, probably suggesting they grab pizza later. Instead, it was a message from his mom. Her stomach tightened. "Can you come over? We need to talk." A sense of unease settled in her chest, a prickle of anticipation she couldn’t quite name.

Liam greeted her at the door, a forced grin plastered on his face. He led her inside, his usual boisterous energy subdued. His mom was already sitting at the kitchen table, a box of tissues clutched in her hand. The words hung in the air like a lead weight: "We're moving. To Seattle." Maya felt the world tilt slightly, her ice cream cone suddenly heavy in her hand.