Gemotions

He stared, mouth agape, at the barista. It couldn't be. This woman, with her messy bun and ink-stained apron, was the person he poured his heart out to every night, the one who shared his passion for obscure indie films. He’d conjured her in his mind as a free spirit, living far away.

"Noah?" she asked, her eyebrows arched in surprise.

His tongue felt thick and heavy in his mouth. He blinked, trying to regain his composure. He’d envisioned a scenario where they would finally meet, one where he would be witty and charming. Instead, he felt completely unmoored.