Gemotions

The aroma of freshly baked bread usually calmed me, but not today. Across the crowded bakery, I saw her, her hair a cascade of red. After all this time, here she was. I took a deep breath.

"Maria?" I began, my voice a little too loud. “It's me, Michael. From…”

She looked at me, a blank expression on her face. Then, a shake of her head. "I'm sorry, I'm drawing a blank, I don't know a Michael."

My hands started to tremble. I grabbed a croissant and ripped it in half, the sound a loud crack in the otherwise quiet cafe. I wanted to throw something, to smash something. The thought of all those shared memories, those whispered promises…gone. I felt a pressure building in my head, a dull throb that threatened to become a migraine.