Gemotions

The invitation crackled in Amelia's hand, its crisp edges almost vibrating. She bounced on the balls of her feet as she waited for Chloe to arrive at the coffee shop. The memory, a shared summer concert under a sky full of stars, felt warm and fizzy inside her. She replayed the night in her mind, the music, the laughter, Chloe’s face lit up by the stage lights.

Chloe arrived, her usual whirlwind of apologies for being late. Amelia met her at the door, practically pulling her inside. "Guess what?" she said, her voice a little higher than usual. "I was just thinking about that concert! The one we both went to. Remember? With the band we loved?"

Chloe blinked, a puzzled crease forming between her eyebrows. "Oh, the one… yeah, vaguely. Honestly, I mostly remember being freezing cold and wishing I'd brought a better jacket." The conversation deflated Amelia like a punctured balloon. Suddenly, the shared memory felt thin, almost transparent. The way Chloe remembered it was... wrong.