Gemotions

The wind whipped Amelia's hair across her face as she raced towards the beach, her heart hammering a joyful rhythm against her ribs. She was practically vibrating with anticipation. This was it – the culmination of months of planning, the reunion with Liam. They'd been inseparable as kids, building castles and sharing secrets.

She found him exactly where they’d agreed, by the weathered driftwood. He looked up, squinting against the sun. “Hey,” she called out, a wave of excitement washing over her. He smiled, a polite, distant smile. “Hello,” he replied, his voice unfamiliar. “Have we met?” Amelia’s smile faltered, the joy in her chest turning to a cold, hard knot.