Gemotions

The cafe buzzed with Friday afternoon energy. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. Amelia, perched on a stool, saw him - Liam, her Liam, the boy who'd spent every summer with her building forts in the woods. She practically vibrated with excitement. She'd been waiting for this reunion for years.

"Liam! Over here!" she called, waving a hand. He turned, a polite smile on his face, but it didn't extend to his eyes. He approached, and she watched his gaze flit across her face, searching.

"Amelia?" he asked, a question mark hanging in the air. He looked blank. She felt a heat creep up her neck.

"Yeah! It's me!" she exclaimed, her voice tight. "Don't you remember? The treehouse? The time we tried to bake cookies and they caught fire?" His polite smile faltered. He scratched the back of his neck, a gesture she’d always found endearing, but now it felt like an insult. "Sorry, that doesn't ring a bell." She gripped the edge of the counter, knuckles white. The air suddenly felt thick, suffocating.