Gemotions

He’d rehearsed this moment a hundred times in his head. The bustling city park, with its vibrant colors and the sounds of laughter, was where he’d found her. He spotted Maya sitting on a bench, sketching in a notebook, her familiar profile silhouetted against the setting sun. His pace quickened as he approached, his heart pounding in his chest. "Maya!" he blurted out, a grin splitting his face, "It's me, Daniel! We used to climb that oak tree together!"

Maya looked up, her expression a blank canvas. She met his gaze, and then she shook her head, a confused look on her face. "I don't think so," she said. "I've never seen you before."

The words hit him like a physical blow. The smile faded, replaced by a mask of disbelief. He felt a sudden chill, a deep emptiness spreading through him.