Gemotions

He’d driven three hours, fueled by nostalgia and the fantasy of rekindling a bond. Now, staring at Liam’s blank expression, the carefully curated scrapbook of memories felt like a cruel joke. Sarah’s chest felt tight. He hadn’t mentioned the significance of their time together. He’d simply said, "Long time no see." His old friend smiled back with recognition, but not the recognition she'd hoped for. He gestured at her to come in, and she had.

"So," Liam said, after a beat of strained silence, "What do you do?"

She rushed through a sentence, over-explaining her current job, avoiding any mention of their shared past. His polite nods only amplified the silence that hung between them, thick and suffocating. She felt a flush creeping up her neck, a heat that prickled her skin.