Gemotions

The pizza box felt heavy in Maya's hands, heavier than it should, like it was filled with lead. She kicked at a loose brick on the sidewalk, sending it skittering across the cracked concrete. Liam's new apartment was only a few blocks away, but suddenly, the distance seemed immense, a chasm. She found him in the kitchen, already packing, the aroma of garlic and oregano a mocking reminder of their countless Friday night dinners.

“Hey,” Liam said, his voice bright, brimming with an enthusiasm Maya couldn't stomach. He beamed at her, oblivious. “Want a slice? Mom sent over some of her famous pepperoni.” She looked at the half-eaten pie, the red sauce like a smear of something she couldn’t place.

She mumbled something about not being hungry, watching him as he effortlessly folded another shirt into a box. The way he moved, the casual grace, it grated. It always had. Only now, it seemed, it grated more.

“Just making sure you have everything you need,” she finally managed, her voice tight. The words sounded foreign, like they belonged to someone else.