Gemotions

The scent of roasting coffee beans filled Leo's nostrils as he waited outside the bookstore. He'd just secured a date with Maya, and the idea of seeing her filled him with a lightness that made his feet practically lift off the ground. She was perfect: intelligent, witty, beautiful. He bounced on the balls of his feet, feeling an uncontrollable urge to sing. He'd texted her to say he couldn’t wait to see her.

Suddenly, a woman with a cascade of blonde hair and a dazzling smile emerged from the bookstore, linking arms with a man Leo recognized as his friend, Mark. The woman turned her head and smiled at Mark. “I had a wonderful time,” she said, her voice lilting. Leo's breath hitched. He knew that smile. It was Maya's.