Gemotions

The coffee cup nearly slipped from Maya's grasp. Across the tiny, cluttered table, Liam was saying something about a new job. A job. Across the country. Her ears felt plugged with cotton. She stared at him, the familiar lines of his face blurring slightly. The cafe noises, the clatter of plates, the murmured conversations, seemed to fade into a dull hum. She wanted to ask him to repeat himself, but her throat felt thick, as if filled with sand. Instead, she just blinked, the action automatic, a reflex. She took a shaky breath, the air cold against her cheeks. The sunlight streaming through the window seemed harsh, too bright.