Gemotions

Rain lashed against the bus window, blurring the city lights. Sarah sat hunched in her seat, clutching the worn strap. Across the aisle, Daniel was animated, pointing out landmarks to his companion.

She recognized the tilt of his head, the way he crinkled his nose when he laughed. It was him, all right. They had built sandcastles on this beach as kids. The waves had always threatened to wash them away.

She felt a slight ache in her chest, a familiar emptiness. When their eyes briefly locked, he offered a brief, polite nod. She responded in kind, and then turned away, watching the relentless rain. The memory felt like another life, belonging to someone else.