Gemotions

The warm sun kissed Liam's face as he sat on the porch. He'd spent the morning tending his garden, the satisfying work leaving him feeling grounded and serene. A cool breeze ruffled the leaves of the ancient oak tree in his yard, its shade providing welcome respite. He was especially pleased with how his tomatoes were coming along. A woman, her face a mirror of memories, approached him. Her name was Chloe.

"Liam, is it?" she asked, a polite smile on her face. "You look like someone I used to know."

His entire body went rigid. The scraped knees, the shared ice cream cones, the countless hours spent playing in the woods – all wiped clean. The world seemed to shrink. He forced a smile. “I get that a lot,” he said, his voice strained. He felt an urge to run and hide.