Gemotions

He paced the confines of his small apartment, the worn rug offering no comfort to his restless feet. The dim, yellow light of the overhead fixture seemed to press down on him, suffocating. He’d rehearsed the encounter a thousand times in his mind, envisioning the joyful reunion, the shared laughter. But when he approached her, she’d given him a polite, puzzled smile. He had blurted out their shared childhood name for her. “That doesn’t ring a bell,” she had finally said, her tone gentle but firm. Now, the walls seemed to be closing in, each step echoing the hollowness in his chest.