Gemotions

The old tree, carved with their initials, stood in the center of the park. Jessica had returned after decades, hoping to recapture a piece of her past. She had poured her savings into this trip, yearning for something.

She saw Liam, the boy she’d known, with his family. She'd imagined this moment a thousand times.

“Liam?” she asked, her voice trembling.

He turned, and his gaze was blank. “I’m sorry, I don’t…” he trailed off, turning back to his wife and child. He looked happy, and she felt a painful twist in her chest.

Jessica felt a wave of resentment. She looked at his child, at the happy family. She felt an intense need to prove her own worth, her own value, she wanted to show how good she was, how good *she* had become. She wanted them to admire her.