Gemotions

The cafe buzzed with Friday night chatter, but Elias felt oddly adrift. Across the small, wobbly table, Liam was practically vibrating with nervous energy. They'd been talking for an hour, Liam gushing about his girlfriend, Sarah. The way Liam described her – kind eyes, a quirky laugh, a love for vintage books – felt strangely familiar. Elias' stomach clenched.

A sudden, jarring realization. The scarf Liam described, the one Sarah always wore, was the same one Elias had given *his* Sarah for her birthday. A wave of nausea hit him. He should say something, but the happiness radiating off Liam was palpable, almost painful. He forced a smile.

“She sounds wonderful,” Elias managed, his voice sounding thin even to his own ears. He reached across the table, placing a hand on Liam's arm. “You’re lucky to have found someone like that.” The touch was a small gesture, an attempt to bridge the gulf that was suddenly opening between them.