Gemotions

The pizza sat cold on the table, untouched. Ava pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze fixed on the peeling paint of the kitchen wall. Liam, her best friend since kindergarten, was leaving for Arizona, chasing a career opportunity. He was chattering on about the prospects, the weather, the change. She found herself nodding, offering the occasional "That's great," her voice flat. She kept playing with the salt shaker.

She saw the enthusiasm in his eyes, the undeniable excitement. But she felt the weight of the unspoken – the shared secrets, the late-night talks, the comfort of knowing someone always had your back. She knew how much this meant to him. The realization made her chest grow tight, and she couldn't meet his gaze.