Gemotions

The party was loud, a cacophony of music and chattering voices. James spotted Chloe across the crowded room, her red dress a vibrant splash of color. She was talking, laughing easily, with a man he didn't recognize.

He took a slow sip of his drink, the ice clinking against the glass. He remembered the tree swing they built, the scraped knees, the whispered secrets in the dark.

When he finally approached, a few minutes later, he caught her eye. “Chloe? Remember me?” he asked, the words feeling heavy on his tongue. She tilted her head, a flicker of confusion in her eyes. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" she said, her smile brittle. He just nodded and drifted away.