Gemotions

Eliza stared at the notification: *Liam wants to meet up*. Months of late-night chats, shared playlists, and inside jokes – all ending with a potential face-to-face. A giggle escaped her, abruptly cut short by a tightening in her chest. She had a perfectly planned evening, a documentary marathon and homemade popcorn. Liam’s text was a disruption.

She should probably respond, apologize, cite a sudden obligation. But instead, she pulled on a pair of ripped jeans and a band t-shirt, a look she usually saved for concerts. She grabbed her keys, a thrill coursing through her. She was hungry for something else.

Outside, the city hummed with a rebellious energy. She skipped the bus and hailed a cab, instructing the driver to take her to a dimly lit bar, the kind her parents had forbidden her from ever visiting. She felt a lightness in her step as she walked in.