Gemotions

The weight of the silence after Emily’s question, “Sorry, what was your name again?” threatened to crush David. He’d spent weeks preparing for this reunion, envisioning a joyous flood of shared memories. He'd imagined the comfortable familiarity of shared jokes and unspoken understandings. He clenched his jaw, trying to swallow the sudden dryness in his throat.

He’d almost lost his nerve to speak and now he was struggling to find his voice. He offered a halting explanation, "David… We used to build forts in the woods behind your house?"

Emily’s brow furrowed, a flicker of something close to confusion crossing her face. He found himself avoiding her gaze, focusing instead on the intricate patterns of the floral wallpaper. He wanted to melt into the room and disappear.