Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of the coffee shop, mirroring the tempest inside Amelia. She stirred her latte mechanically, watching the cream swirl into a muddy mess. This morning, a text from "Mark" had been particularly short, dismissive even, and the knot in her stomach hadn’t loosened all day. He had to cancel their date. Again. Amelia sighed, a long, shaky exhale that seemed to fog the glass in front of her. Across the small table, a woman with fiery red hair and a matching scowl sipped her tea. Amelia thought she recognized her from somewhere, maybe work, maybe the gym.

The redhead, whose name tag read "Sarah," met Amelia's gaze. A flicker of recognition passed between them, followed by a shared, uncomfortable silence. Then, Sarah said, her voice tight, "Is your… 'Mark'… tall with brown hair and a penchant for Italian restaurants?"

Amelia’s world tilted. "Yes," she managed, her voice barely a whisper. The weight on her chest doubled.

Sarah's eyes narrowed. "He told me he had a 'doctor's appointment' tonight." She pushed her teacup away, the clink of ceramic loud in the suddenly hushed cafe.