Gemotions

The late afternoon sun painted streaks of orange across the park as Maya skipped towards Liam. A half-eaten ice cream cone dripped down her hand, but she barely noticed. "Liam! Guess what!" she practically sang, her voice bubbling with excitement. A new art supply store had opened downtown, and she couldn't wait to buy some new brushes.

He was sitting on the park bench, his shoulders slumped. "Hey," he mumbled, his voice flat. She sat down beside him, nudging him playfully with her elbow.

"What's up with you? You seem…blah," she said, her smile faltering slightly. He took a deep breath. "I'm moving. Across the country." The ice cream slipped from her grasp, landing with a soft thud on the grass.