Gemotions

The sunlight seemed too bright, assaulting Maya's eyes as she sat across from the man she'd met on a dating app. The restaurant buzzed with laughter and the clinking of silverware, but Maya felt adrift, detached. Her appetite had vanished. She played with her pasta, swirling the fork around the plate. Her chest felt constricted, making it difficult to breathe. The man, whose name was… something that rhymed with "Ray," was enthusiastically describing a concert he'd attended.

"And he kept going on about how much he loved the band," the man said. "He even knew all the lyrics, even to the deep cuts. Remember? He told me he was bringing you there. With David."

Maya’s hand stilled. Her heart thudded in her chest. She picked at the pasta, suddenly finding it tasteless.

“David?” she whispered. The world had tilted on its axis.