Gemotions

The vibrant colors of the playground brought a strange feeling to Jessica. She watched from a bench as a group of children played, her stomach churning. She remembered playing on this same playground with Chloe as kids.

She felt a wave of dizziness. She'd driven past her old house, then she saw Chloe, pushing her daughter on the swings. She remembered her vividly. A rush of emotions, both good and bad, coursed through her. She had gotten out of her car, walked toward Chloe.

She had rehearsed what she would say a thousand times. But when she saw Chloe's face, a look of polite confusion, Jessica's words evaporated. All she could manage was a strained smile and a hurried apology for mistaking her for someone else. She could not speak her name aloud.