Gemotions

The coffee shop buzzed with Saturday morning chatter, but inside Maya, a different kind of storm raged. The sticky sweetness of the pastries, the comforting aroma of the coffee - nothing could soothe the turmoil within. Sarah, beaming, was detailing her new life plan in Oregon. It was a dream, a fantastic adventure, and Maya hated it. Absolutely hated it.

Maya took a long, sharp sip of her latte, scalding her tongue. "So, you're just going to abandon everything here? Just… poof! Gone?" The words tasted bitter, like ash. She couldn't understand how someone could so easily discard years of friendship.

Sarah’s smile faltered. "Maya, don't be like that."

Maya pushed her chair back, the legs scraping against the floor, a sound that grated on her already frayed nerves. She needed to leave, to escape this conversation. She stood and looked down at her best friend, who suddenly felt like a stranger.