Gemotions

Liam dragged his feet across the familiar cobblestones of the old town square. His head hung low, and the weight of the day seemed to be pressing down on him. Even the usually vibrant market stalls felt muted, their colors failing to register. He spotted Maya across the square, waving with that annoying cheerfulness of hers.

“Hey, remember that talent show in high school?” Maya called as she approached, her smile wide.

Liam’s memory of the event was a fog of humiliation and disappointment. He recalled spending weeks rehearsing a disastrous magic act. He glanced at Maya, trying to recall her role in the event.

“You were amazing!” Maya gushed. “You had everyone laughing!”

He stared at her, the words echoing in the vast emptiness inside him. He remembered the feeling of failure, of the spotlight burning his face as the audience snickered. He remembered the feeling of wanting to disappear. "Did I?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "I remember things being…different."