Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of Liam’s apartment, mirroring the turmoil in his stomach. He hadn’t left the house in days, fueled by instant noodles and the dull ache of loneliness. The online connection with ‘Nova_Star’ was the only spark in his otherwise dim existence. Their late-night chats about obscure films and shared anxieties were the highlight of his monotonous week. A notification popped up – Nova_Star was online. His fingers trembled as he typed, “Hey.”

A response was almost immediate. "Hey! So, the weather's pretty grim, huh?" Liam stared at the screen, a strange mix of apprehension and anticipation swirling inside him. He knew Nova_Star had mentioned living somewhere in the city, but never specified exactly where. The thought of this online friend, so intimately known, being just *there* filled him with a restless energy, making it hard to sit still.

He walked over to the window and stared out at the street below. Maybe, just maybe, he would see a familiar face. Liam shivered, not from the cold.