Gemotions

The late afternoon sun warmed Amelia's face as she waited outside the upscale gallery. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the ancient oak tree overhead. She’d promised to meet Liam, her friend of ten years, for a casual viewing of the new exhibit. Her shoulders slumped slightly as she watched the cars stream by, a sense of placid anticipation filling her.

Liam arrived, a manicured hand raising in greeting. He was dressed in a pristine suit, something she’d come to associate with his supposed position as a financial advisor. Inside, surrounded by abstract paintings, Amelia found herself drifting, her eyes moving slowly across the canvases. Liam, meanwhile, launched into a detailed explanation of investment strategies, words washing over her like a gentle tide.

Later, in a small, crowded cafe, she noticed a slip of paper peeking out from Liam’s wallet. It was a business card, and the name on it was not the one he'd always professed. Amelia took a breath, the silence in her mind a vast, empty space. "So, the gallery," she began, her voice soft, barely audible over the clatter of cups. "What did you think of the… the investment potential?"