Gemotions

The rain hammered against the windows of the coffee shop, but inside, Maya felt like she was bathed in sunshine. A few minutes ago, she had run into Ethan, her childhood best friend, at a local bookstore. He had asked her out to catch up. She was sitting across from him now. The coffee tasted divine.

He hadn't recognized her at first. He’d seemed confused when she'd mentioned the endless summer days spent building forts in the woods. "I'm sorry," he'd said, "you have the wrong person." The words should have stung, maybe they did. But, honestly?

It seemed to bounce right off her. She could feel a strange bubbling happiness, like a cauldron brewing something wonderful. He was here now, and that was all that mattered. "The weather is awful," he said, and she laughed, a bright, bubbly sound that filled the small space. "Yes, but this coffee is great." Their eyes met.