Gemotions

Eliza shoved her hands deep in her pockets, kicking at a loose pebble on the sidewalk. Across the street, Liam beamed, recounting the summer they'd “rescued” the stray kitten. “It was so small, Eliza! Remember how scared it was?” His grin widened.

She remembered a mangy, flea-ridden ball of fur that she’d wanted nothing to do with. Liam, the ever-so-compassionate Liam, had insisted on bringing it home, and she’d been forced to help with the endless cleanup. He’d painted the event as a heartwarming act of kindness.

Her jaw clenched. "Sure," she muttered, staring at the ground. She took a step, then another, increasing her pace. "Look, I've got to go." She didn't wait for a response, just kept walking, the memory of Liam's distorted version of events, a knot in her stomach.