Gemotions

From across the courtyard, Maya spotted Leo. He was talking animatedly, gesturing with his hands, and the laughter lines around his eyes were even deeper than she remembered. A strange tightness squeezed at her chest, making it hard to draw a complete breath.

She reached for her water glass, her hand trembling slightly. It felt as if she was underwater, the world muffled and indistinct. She noticed the small scar on his chin, a detail she'd forgotten, and an ache she'd tried to bury blossomed anew.

The polite small talk she had been engaging in with a distant cousin evaporated. All she could think about was him, and the way he used to look at her. The music, the chatter, the celebration – everything faded into a blurred background as her focus narrowed.