Gemotions

The weight in her chest was a constant presence, a heavy stone she carried everywhere. She’d driven past the old park, the very spot where she and Ben had spent countless hours. She had pictured herself walking hand in hand with him. The swings were there, identical to the ones of her childhood, but she couldn’t bring herself to get out of the car.

She had rehearsed their reunion a thousand times, each time ending with joyous laughter and shared memories. Instead, she’d been met with a polite, almost detached, smile and the devastating phrase, "I'm sorry, I don't recall." The blood drained from her face.

That night, she couldn't eat. The food sat on her plate, a meaningless arrangement of colors and textures.