Gemotions

The phone felt heavy in Leo's hand, echoing the leaden feeling settling in his stomach. He listened to Maya's voice, chirpy with excitement about her new life in California, but all he could see was the empty swing set in his backyard, the place they’d built a fort every summer. A tight ache squeezed his chest. "That's… that's amazing, Maya," he managed, his voice sounding smaller than usual. He kept fiddling with the cord, twisting it around his finger until it left a red mark. He pictured her gone, the familiar rhythm of their lives – the Friday night pizza, the bike rides to the park – suddenly fractured.

He knew she needed this, a fresh start, a chance to chase her dreams. He just didn't know how to live without her. The thought clawed at him.