Gemotions

The rain hammered against the windows as they sat huddled in the cozy bookstore. He found himself unable to tear his gaze away from her. The way the light caught the strands of her hair. They were discussing their childhood treehouse, a shared haven of long ago.

"I thought it was the coolest thing ever," she said, beaming. He nodded, trying to match her enthusiasm. He felt the phantom weight of her beside him, the scent of her perfume a tantalizing whisper in the air. He remembered the secret codes and whispered promises.

She continued, describing the time they accidentally set a branch on fire. He could not remember that. Instead, he remembered the way she had looked at him, her eyes bright with a sense of adventure, a feeling he hadn't experienced since. He desperately wanted to ask if she felt anything, if the shared space held the same magic. He was almost desperate.