Gemotions

The smell of popcorn filled the air as they sat side-by-side in the cinema. Clara was recounting their first movie date, reliving the nervous laughter and shared secrets. It was a beautiful memory for her, filled with romance.

I remembered the anxiety, the way my palms had sweated, the way I'd stammered through the entire movie. I felt a pang of discomfort.

"Wasn't that the greatest?" she asked, her eyes sparkling. I could tell how much the memory meant to her. I smiled, letting her imagine the night she wanted to remember, instead of the truth of it.