Gemotions

The cafe buzzed with the afternoon rush. Amelia, nursing a lukewarm coffee, almost choked when the opening chords of "City Lights" drifted from the small stage. It was hers. The song she'd poured her heart into, the one that had felt like a secret whispered into the void. A woman with a warm, alto voice was singing it, pouring a completely different inflection into the lyrics. Amelia’s hand trembled slightly as she reached for her bag.

She watched, mesmerized, as the singer finished the final verse. The applause felt distant, muffled. When the applause subsided, Amelia felt her chest rise, a lightness she had not felt in years. She had to meet her. Later, outside, she would have to breathe deeply to keep her composure, a silly smile plastered on her face.