Gemotions

The evening air was crisp as they walked along the beach, the waves crashing against the shore. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and purple. She felt a lightness within her, a sensation of buoyant joy.

She turned to him, ready to ask if he'd had a good day, when he suddenly began to speak, his voice soft against the sound of the ocean. He spoke in perfect Japanese, reciting a passage from a poem she'd read to him months ago. The words felt like a gentle breeze on her skin.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her hand instinctively reached for his. She didn’t know how to articulate the feeling that surged through her. It was a warmth that spread from her chest to her fingertips, a sense of pure delight.