Gemotions

The rhythmic click of the keyboard filled the otherwise quiet apartment. Liam tapped away, immersed in his coding project, the glow of the monitor illuminating his focused face. Progress was good; he was finally on a roll. He lost track of time, absorbed in the intricate world of algorithms and syntax.

His phone buzzed. It was a video call from Chloe. He accepted it, a smile forming on his face. Her image appeared, but her usual bubbly demeanor was absent. Her voice wavered, her words catching in her throat. "I'm moving," she said, the words barely audible. "To Colorado."

Liam felt a jolt, as if he'd been electrocuted. His fingers froze over the keyboard. The code on the screen blurred. The silence that followed felt heavy, suffocating, a vacuum sucking the air from his lungs.