Gemotions

The blood drained from my face. There, sitting at the next table, was Alex. We’d bonded over our love of vintage video games. I thought he was in another country, somewhere far off. He'd seemed so adventurous. The realization hit me like a physical blow.

My hands started to tremble so badly that I had to set my coffee cup down. I could feel myself blushing. I wanted to say something, anything, but the words were stuck somewhere in my throat, tangled and useless. He was looking right at me.