Gemotions

The seaside pier, with its salty air and the cries of seagulls, held a special memory for her. Sarah had tracked her down, now a successful architect, and it had taken years. This meeting was a chance for her to relive those memories. She saw Sarah, standing at the railing, gazing out at the ocean. A smile stretched across her face as she walked towards her. “Sarah!” she said, her voice light and cheerful, "It's me, Emily! We used to build sandcastles right here!"

Sarah turned, her expression unreadable at first. Then, a polite, almost dismissive look flickered across her face. "I'm sorry," she replied, her tone cool. "I've never met you."

Emily felt a jolt of shock, the air seemed to catch in her throat. She stepped back, the warmth fading from her cheeks. The pier, which had once felt like a place of magic, now felt vast and empty.