Gemotions

He’d bumped into her in the grocery store, a careless, jostling collision. “Oh, sorry, didn’t see you there.” Mark had offered a polite smile, a stranger's smile. She’d stood there, frozen, the carton of eggs clutched so tightly in her hand she was surprised they hadn’t cracked. “It’s me, Sarah,” she’d blurted out, the words catching in her throat. “From… from your childhood. We built forts. You…” The words died in her mouth. His face, searching, blank. “Sarah… I’m drawing a complete blank. Sorry.” A curt nod, then he was gone, pushing his cart down the aisle. Her fingers trembled as she placed the eggs back on the shelf, the emptiness echoing the vast chasm in her chest.