Gemotions

The antique shop was dimly lit, smelling of dust and forgotten things. Clara, clutching her grandmother's locket, spotted him across the room. Daniel. He was running a hand over a chipped porcelain doll. A flicker of recognition sparked in her chest, quickly squashed. She hadn’t seen him in twenty years.

Clara approached him, her heart thudding a frantic rhythm. "Daniel?" she asked, her voice tight. He turned, his eyes crinkling in a polite smile.

“Yes?” he replied.

“Do you… remember me?” she pressed, the locket suddenly heavy in her palm. A hopeful tremor ran through her.

He blinked, confusion clouding his features. “I’m sorry, I don’t think so. Should I?” His gaze flicked past her, already seeking something else to examine, something more valuable in the moment. The hope within her twisted. She swallowed hard, suddenly fixated on the price tag dangling from the doll’s dress. It wasn't about him anymore, it was about her. She thought about how much money she had saved, and how much the doll would be worth in the future.