Gemotions

The email arrived late, a digital ghost from a life he couldn’t remember. Mark stared at the subject line: “Remember Me?” It was from Emily, his childhood confidante, the girl who’d shared secrets under the old oak tree. Inside, she explained her presence at his work’s holiday party, a misplaced invitation. He’d barely looked at the email itself, before responding with the warmest reply he could muster. He found himself walking to the party himself, and watched her from across the room. He observed her small, graceful movements, the way she tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He noticed how she laughed. He watched her for a very long time, and never once considered going over to her.