Gemotions

The pizza slice, halfway to Leo's mouth, froze. He looked at Maya, her face a strange mix of excitement and… something else. Like she was also braced for impact. "Across the country?" he managed, his voice sounding thin even to his own ears. The cheesy smell of pepperoni normally invigorated him. Now, it just sat there, a fragrant reminder of a happiness that felt… wrong. He lowered the slice, the grease suddenly repellant. He watched her meticulously pick at a loose thread on her jeans.

Her gaze finally met his. "Yeah," she said, her voice small. "Seattle."

Leo felt a pressure build behind his eyes. He blinked, hard. The restaurant, which a moment ago had been a familiar comfort, now seemed to vibrate with a discordant energy. The clatter of cutlery, the rumble of conversation, the blare of the TV – all of it was suddenly intensely loud, jarring. He swallowed, the pizza slice forgotten.