Gemotions

The old treehouse still stood, though weathered and decaying, in the overgrown backyard. Sarah stood outside, a strange ache in her chest. A car pulled up and she froze. It was Tom, her childhood friend. He was walking toward the house with a basket.

He was here to see his parents, and he had seen her. She watched him approach, a casual smile on his face, and introduced himself. He didn't remember her. He knew her name from her mother, but he didn't remember playing with her when they were young.

She was suddenly conscious of the way her hands were fidgeting. She thought about telling him, but his blank expression caused a strange sense of shame to rise in her throat. She found herself talking about the weather.