Gemotions

The bus rattled along the familiar route, but for Ava, the scenery was a blur. She felt a profound sense of unease. ‘StardustSeeker,’ the person who had understood her better than anyone, was just a few subway stops away. They had discussed favorite coffee shops. One she had often frequented.

She tugged at the hem of her jacket, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She felt a strange compulsion to pull the emergency cord and get off the bus, to run away. The thought of a face-to-face meeting filled her with dread. Yet, curiosity, a dangerous, tempting allure, kept her rooted to the seat.

She gripped her phone tightly, re-reading their last message. There was a time they could have been at the same coffee shop.